Having Resolve

Having resolve means deciding firmly on a course of action, making the best of a challenging situation.  It requires digging deep to draw on one's inner strength, which leads to becoming even stronger.
Having resolve is what my newly separated, fifty-something friend is choosing as she creates a new life for herself after being informed by her husband of almost thirty years that he no longer wants to be married.   
Having resolve is what my recently married, twenty-eight-year-old acquaintance is demonstrating as she courageously undergoes surgery, chemo, and radiation for her recent breast cancer diagnosis.
Having resolve is what I choose every morning, then repeatedly employ over the course of the day in order to not go under from the grief.  The reward is personal growth, and opportunity for personal growth is what our life challenges are all about.

Mother Daughter Moment

Enjoying a cherished mother daughter moment yesterday.  In a beautifully appointed tea house not far from home.  Serene inviting atmosphere.  Spending time together.  This morning, reflecting on a very poignant mother daughter experience with my own mom.  Fifteen years ago.  Spending an afternoon seated side by side.  Each in our own comfortable recliners.  Chatting about this and that.  Warm attentive staff hovering about.  In the chemo clinic at our local hospital.  Each receiving our own unique life prolonging elixirs.  The two doctors coincidentally scheduling our treatments for the same time.  An image that will stay with me always.  Today recognizing the similarities amidst the stark contrasts of those two experiences.  Mothers and daughters connecting.

It's Just Hair

I often get comments on my very short hair and the most common one from women is, "I wish I could wear mine like that." Usually I just smile and say thank you. I may add something to the effect of, "Why not just try it, what have you got to loose? It's just hair and it'll grow back if you don't like it." Occasionally I will tell the person the story of how mine came to be. One September morning in 1995 I awoke with a very strong sense that I should get my shoulder length hair cut short. I had not been contemplating that nor did I have any idea of what that might look like. The feeling was so strong that I called my mother's friend, a hairstylist in my neighbourhood who had very short hair herself and asked if I could come to her salon that very morning. When I arrived she asked what the cut should look like and I replied, "Just short." She pressed, asking if I had any pictures or photos to show her. I didn't. Well, she cut away and I left with very short hair indeed. I felt great about it but because I hadn't told my husband or three children about it, it was a bit of a shock to them. Well, as it turned out, two months later I was diagnosed with cancer, stage three Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and two months after that, my hair was falling out due to the chemo treatments. By following through on my intuition, I had a tiny bit of preparation for what was ahead of me, and once again I had verification that it's a powerful tool that helps me navigate my life in ways that I may not understand in the moment, but will most often be revealed to me later on. So, if your intuition is telling you something today, listen closely, and act. After all, it's just hair!