Things I'm grateful for in the lead up to Christmas....

MSL

It's been a very sad time recently in this community and my love goes out to all, particularly those who are doing it very tough at the moment and the families of those who have passed.

As a newly diagnosed I've had many dark, difficult and lonely stretches of time where the list of horrors within which you can dwell seems endless.

But there is always the counterweight of the joy and love you feel, which in many ways is the deepest and most profound you've known. Your appreciation of life and those you love is so acute.

So I thought I'd share what I was thinking about today. Every other Christmas I've felt tired and frazzled, the pressure of sorting out gifts, seeing people, getting the kids to the end of the year, work hassles etc etc etc. (how much we used to take for granted!)

This year, is a whole different story and while I'm so very sad about what's happened, I'm grateful to be here and I'm enjoying on a whole new level all the things that I used to find stressful. Whether it be taking the kids to school, shopping, putting up the tree, organising gifts, food preparation etc etc etc.

I hope that everybody else is finding their rainbows at this time of year.

Blessings

Bestbird

MSL, thank you so much for sharing your insight and perspective! It's amazing how an mbc diagnosis can change and even simplify one's outlook!

Sending you very best wishes for the holiday and the years to come!

MSL

and to you too dear Bestbird xx

Lynnwood1960

I too, now find joy in the simple everyday things, and am grateful for being able to still do them. I remember packing away the Christmas decorations last year wondering if I would be able to put them out again this year. I am happy to say that they are out again! I'm a little slower and a lot more tired, but still going strong.

DivineMrsM

I am also very grateful to be heading into another Christmas.

I am grateful for finally learning to "keep things simple " during the holidays. How I wish I'd learned years ago! I spent two casual days over the weekend, one with dh, another with ds. I did some shopping with each, going very early to beat the crowds. My favorite time to shop. Found great bargains and then went to lunch. No rush, no pressure. Dh and I wrapped most of the gifts already. I do not go overboard and do not charge gifts, its all pay as I go. I shopped on line, too, a great time and energy saver. My decorating is simple. I like festive but it does not need to be strewn everywhere. I am going easy on food for entertaining this year with finger foods and snacks rather than lots of cooked food. I think I was often trying to manufacture a Christmas spirit rather than just allow it to be there. It is now more an internal enjoyment than external.

Kandy

I agree Ms Divine, I so wish I had lived a more simple life. Hind sight is 20/20.

I am also grateful to be here for another Christmas with my family and friends. I've tried to do most of my shopping off the Internet too. So much easier and less stressful for me. I find myself not stressing near as much now over things. Guess I've learnt it is what it is. Can't believe I am here to celebrate my first grandchild's first Christmas. Such a blessing. I typically make a lot of unique crochet things for my friends. But at the last minute, I'm always stressing to get them done in time. So this year, very few things to be made. And if it gets done, great, if not oh well, maybe next year, lol. I hope everyone is just taking time to enjoy the moment. I've always said the kids will not remember what they get, they will remember our time together. Embrace it

artistatheart

Me too on the simplicity! Hindsight IS 20/20 for sure. We sold our large house and found a clean, move in ready, simple, smaller place and I plan to unload like never before. I want to focus on people, exercise, and crafting! For this Christmas I made my kids photo books online. I needed to sort out the pictures anyway so scanned a bunch while I was at it and Voila! Also bought tickets to "Miracle on 34th St" theater at a major casino on Christmas Eve. Kandy you will have a bunch of precious pictures this year!

DivineMrsM

It's been, surprisingly, almost six years I've been dealing with stage iv bc from the start. That first year, I had chemo, rads, a lumpectomy. I had no alternative other than to cut back and make things easier on myself. What I noticed happening is a few years out from the dx, as I had this stretch of stability, I began to again take on a few more things. It never got to be as burdensome as before bc, but last summer, I knew I had to again reassess my work load. Dh and I were able to simplify and pare down things we were dealing with. One was that we finally convinced his 88 year old mother to move into an apt across the street from us and sell her house which was out in the country. We'd been helping her maintain the house for for over 25 years and enough was enough.

Then this Thanksgiving, I ended up having a houseful for dinner, more than I usually have. I've been having Thanksgiving here also for 25 years and for the first time, I felt resentful about all the work I was putting in to it, even tho dh and ds and my sister pitched in. I just don't want to be tied down to making this big feast anymore. We've decided that next year, we will all go out for Thanksgiving buffet at a local restaurant, everyone paying for their own meal, then come back to our place for dessert, with everyone bringing some kind of dessert or dip and whatever they want to drink. It is time for the work to be more evenly distributed. I like having people over but I want to eliminate the exhausting amount of work required for a big get together.

I see Thanksgiving as the start of the holiday season, so its one more way I plan to simplify.

zarovka

MSL - I am also stage IV and happy. Not happy to be stage IV, but happy that everything that matters is in sharp focus.

Very grateful to have you all help me get through this year.

Happy holidays.

>Z<

artistatheart

I return the sentiment Z, as you have been such a thoughtful and intelligent voice here. I can't express how much I have learned from you, how much your posts mean to me.

Divine, I look very forward to my move and just living simpler and doing the things I love.Very Happy Holidays to all!