another look at the pink ribbon...

Anonymous

I am one of us who has pretty much hated the schmaltzy pink deluge that occurs every October and, of course, in each of our lives once we're diagnosed. But a friend just sent me this poem and it made the idea of wearing a pink ribbon almost palatable to me. Thought I'd share it:


Pink Ribbons: The Ties That Bind
by Beth Thompson
I never realized the strength
a tiny bit of ribbon can impart
until I pinned a twist of pink
above my heart to symbolize survival;
until I saw acquaintances and friends
and loved ones wear the same,
in my name, to show their strong support.
It's so hard to reclaim your life
once the crisis ends. You're never sure
it's really over. So courage begins
with the pinning on of symbols
in the face of lasting fears.
Once the illness touches you,
you know you can't depend on cures
to last forever, so you wear pink
to show the world, and show yourself,
you're still there, and you intend to stay.
Courage is persisting in the face of fear,
not waiting until it disappears to soldier on.
A pink ribbon twist to symbolize endurance with a bit of flair -
you're still there!
We've always decorated life with ribbons:
pink or blue to celebrate the newborn
gift of life, and later, bows for gifts
to mark each birthday celebration.
Christmas bows on boxes or on wreathes,
and loops of ribbon delicate as orchids
for a first corsage or for an anniversary, counting many loving years.
Ribbons range from small reminding bows tied on fingers
to giant rosettes of blue and gold to signify a prize-winning day.
We hold together memories of life with ribbon ties.
But ribbons took on a deeper meaning
as colors came to symbolize a cause.
Those yellow ribbons tied on trees
were hope and wishes for a loved one
coming home. Ribbons pinned on uniforms, reminders of bravery
long after wars have ended: deliberately colorful as if
to triumph over conflict, over pain.
We wear what we want to say, our pledge,
what we want others to remember and respect.
So my small twist of pink
becomes the symbol of a victory
in my own small, terrifying war
and helps me seek each day
the courage to carry on.
It tells the feelings I can't always
speak aloud, from a heart grown strong,
a thousand hearts grown strong,
despite the delicate shade of pink...
the courage to believe, to heal,
the courage to carry on.

Anonymous

Loved it, Marin.

I guess I'm sorta unusual. I don't mind October. I may not need to be reminded of bc, but there are many others who do. However, I wonder how many people really pay attention to all the bc hoopla. I didn't before being dxd.
Now I want to scream out, LISTEN, LISTEN!
Shirley

EachDay

I liked this very much; the idea that a ribbon signifies so much in our lives and it isn't just paying lip service to breast cancer. It's worth sharing with others and thank you for posting it.

SC

BethNY

love it- thanks for sharing

Karenfrew

Marin,

Thank you very much for this. I have been struggling with all the pinkness that I still have upstairs that people brought to me to help me fight this battle. I have a pink magnet on my fridge and on my whiteboard at school. After reading this poem I will continue to wear the pink ribbons and appreciate that in October I can scream, take note, I am a survivor!!!

Thanks for sharing it wiht us

Kathy

Sandra1957

I am not personally a pink ribbon wearer, but I do proudly display on my rearview mirror of my vehicle a sterling silver ribbon charm with a tiny pink crystal, a brightly colored silver flip-flop charm (that somebody special gave to me), along with a teeny-tiny wagon wheel charm (to remind me of my special sisters, all hanging from pink crystal BC bracelet a friend gave to me when her sister (who made the bracelet) was dx'd. They are all very special reminders to say a little prayer for all of my sisters and to keep on keeping on...

Nancy101

This certainly makes me look at the pink ribbon with much more appreciation and meaning. Thanks.

NoH8

I'm like you Shirley, I love the pink ribbon and what it symbolizes. I have several pink ribbon tattoos because to me our ribbon about strength, hope and survival.

lvtwoqlt

I have proudly worn the pink ribbon six years since my mothers dx. It means more now that I am a survivor. My husband bought me a new magnet for my car at a truckstop this week it says 'BEATING THE ODDS'. That is a very positive thought that we are all beating the odds.

Sheila

gsg

This was so beautiful, Marin. I hope you don't mind, I posted it in the notes section of my facebook page. I have one of those pink crystal ribbons and I wear it proudly. (With my job, I also wear it to keep breast cancer on the minds of our legislators when they're working on the budget and health care legislation. )

abbadoodles

I used to love pink. I will still wear it if it is not bc pink.

Tina

Bren-2007

Thank you Marin. I am having the pink ribbon tattooed with my NED date, incorporated into the morning glories already tattooed on my lower back. It means a lot to me.

Brenda in VA

lvtwoqlt

My husband is also getting a pink ribbon tattoo on his upper arm with the words 'my hero-my wife' and he is deathly afraid of needles. He said that I have faced my fears and he will face his.

Sheila

bonny1963

I went 10 days ago and got my first tattoo ever. It is a pink ribbon with swirls around it and the words "Faith Love Hope and Strength circleing my ankle. Those are the four things that got me through these past 11 months. I designed it and wrote it and the guy copied it in my handwriting. It is very symbolic for me and I love it. Bonny

MarieL1243

Thank you for your beautiful post. I had never thought about pink ribbons the way you expressed. For those of you with pink ribbon tattoos, could you please post a picture? I would love to get a first tattoo and have never seen any with pink ribbons.
Thank you

juanita63

I'd like to see some of your tattoos too. I've decided I'm getting one for each year. I've got 2 so far and one more to go for my anniversary Sept 7. Pix of my tattos are on my care page juanita1963

threadbear

Thank you, Marin! This was beautiful, and such a reminder of the strenghth I've gathered from my bc friends!

Laura

Anonymous

And speaking of tattoos, I have several (hip, shoulder and lower back) and I love them! None are pink ribbon though, but I'm considering it. Anyway, I always find great tattoo ideas at the Tattoo Johnny website. Here's the link and just type in 'pink ribbon' in the search box and click 'Find My Tattoo.' ENJOY!

http://www.tattoojohnny.com/tattoo-design-gallery.asp

~Marin

SoapMaker

I saw a show, just last week, where some artist/mechanics took a man's beat up semi cab and turned it into new. His mother had recently died of bc and they fixed the truck up so that when he drives down the highway, he is spreading the word "For the cure". The truck was so beautiful...a dark midnight blue background with a big pink bc ribbon and silohetts of women in the back ground. If I saw that truck driving down the highway, it would bring tears to my eyes. They showed him driving it and people passing and honking and waving. It was a great show. For the cure...

----------------------------------------------------------
Where is the cure
www.truefacesofbreastcancer.org

JoanofArdmore

Marin, I must have been moving when you posted this.
WOW!
I love it!!