Tag Archive | friends

Showered with love

Aug9

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As I read the messages of love from my friends
My eyes tear up
So much kindness and care is evident in them

Messages from my classmates around the world
Messages from my friends in Montreal
Messages and calls from my family

Nothing can go wrong with so much love
I believe in the power of prayer and positive thoughts
I believe in their role in healing

If anything, this experience has shown me how much I’m loved
If anything, I can see more clearly the goodness
In everyone’s heart

August 9th, 2022

The day before my operation for breast cancer

Should I be?

Aug7

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Should I be worried?

Somehow I’m not

With the support of my family and friends

I feel strong

I trust my surgeons to do a good job

And I know I will be spoiled with kindness afterward

Challenges are blessings sometimes

I now know better how many people care for me

There are many people I can lean on

Thankful for every one’s love

I know all will be well

All will be fine

August 7th 2022

A few days before breast surgery

But I’m not

Jun16
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I should be sad

But I feel uplifted

I should be scared

But I feel hopeful

I should be upset 

But I feel grateful

I should be perplexed

But I understand

And the only reason for this is my Faith in God

And the outpouring of support from my friends

I feel buoyed by their love

I feel like I’m flying in the rare atmosphere of their care and compassion

And I’m basking in the sunshine of their affection

I should be sad

But I’m not 

June 16th, 2022

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Cashmere blanket

Jun15

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It’s like a Cashmere blanket

In purple and orange hues

Soft and luxurious

Silky to the touch

I put it around myself

And feel cocooned in love 

I feel cared for

This is the love from my friends

Who are here to support me through challenging times

The caring words of my friends

Their soothing  and thoughtful messages

Are like fragrant rose petals falling from above

Perfuming the air

They are like a spring breeze on my fevered brow

Like a river of life giving water

Like a fire that warms me up in the dead of night

My friends

My treasures in this world

My friends

We’ll together reach the shore

June 2022

After my diagnosis with early stage breast cancer

Let’s talk

Jan26

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How are you?

Are you feeling OK?

I’m not expecting to hear that you are fine

That you’re managing well

It’s OK if today you don’t feel well

How often do we ask how are you 

Expecting the same answer?

What should we do if the answer is not OK?

How can I help you we may say

Would you like to grab a coffee and talk?

I won’t give you advice

I won’t tell you to be thankful for all you have

I’ll simply listen and let you empty your cup

This is not always easy for me

The need to give advice is always there

But advice is not needed in these instances

Just acknowledging the hurt will do

Just letting someone know you care

And that they are not alone in their pain

I know this because I’ve been there

I’ve been the person who was not OK

And when my friends simply listened to me

They lifted my spirit and helped me persevere

Some problems can’t be fixed right away

The road to healing may be long

And what’s most important is to know

You have friends that you can count on

January 26th, 2021

Uncertain times

Nov27

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An uncertain year lies ahead

When will we have the vaccines?

Who will get them first?

When will there be enough immunity?

When can we start visiting our friends?

When can musicians sing in front of crowds?

When will the news not be about COVID?

When will the children visit their grandparents?

When can we get together with our friends?

How long will we need to wear our masks?

How long do we need to stay two feet apart?

How long before some people can go back to work?

How long before a sense of normal?

No one has the exact answers to these questions

We have to get comfortable with the uncertainty

We have to do our best to keep our communities safe

Short term pleasure will cause long term pain

We have to act based on the guidelines in place

By cheating, we are cheating no one but ourselves

We have to look beyond what pleases us

We have to realize others’ health depends on us

We live in a ‘me’ society

It’s time to change it to a ‘we’ society

November 27th, 2020

Zoom mehmouni*

Apr7

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During these times of no mehmouni

We’re resorting to Zoom ones

There are advantages involved

With no commute time or air plain ride

We can come together from various counties in the world

Cross-continental mehmounis are what we have now

We can bring our cup of tea or our ‘tokhmeh’*

We can even have a meal at the same time

We can arrive when we want

And leave when we want

We can be inside or outside

Zoom mehmounis are wonderful

The only things we can’t do is talk at the same time

 

April 7th, 2020

 

Mehmouni:  party

Tokhmeh: seeds in their shell that are cracked and eaten as refreshment

Looking for calm

Apr5

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Back and forth
Back and forth
From icon to icon
On my cell phone:
WhatsApp
Instagram
E-mail
News
Facebook
I read
I listen
I contemplate
And repeat…

Too much news?
Too much information?
Too much screen time?
Perhaps

So I put my phone away
Open my notebook
And start to write

Suddenly time slows down
I relax
I don’t have to process so much information
I don’t have to listen to sad news
I can be in my place of calm

The coffee shops are closed
So, the comfortable chair in our bedroom, by the window
Is where I’m writing today
It’s cloudy and
We’re longing for the return of the sun

We’re all doing our best to cope
To stay connected to friends
To avoid getting cabin fever
To do things in new and different ways

Thankful that writing centres me
Thankful that I’m in touch with my friends
Hoping we’ll emerge stronger and wiser
When we’ve made it through these challenging times

April 2nd, 2020

People

Dec27

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“People come and go, that’s life”

Doesn’t mean it’s easy not to miss them

 

People come and go

Feeling the pain of separation is part of it

 

People come and go

But a few stay longer

And we create a deeper connection

 

People come and go

Their memory will always be with us

 

People come and go

Sometimes we’re the ones who go

 

People come and go

Can’t stop the movement

 

People come and go

Others will come and fill their place

 

People come and go

The circles expands

 

People come and go

But true friendships will endure

 

People come and go

Let’s keep those who are here close to us

 

December 26th, 2019

Stigma

Dec15

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We are considered weak by some

Defective, strange and to be avoided by others 

It looks like we don’t try hard enough and

Don’t have the determination to beat our condition

 

Whereas to not give up hope 

During the dark days of depression 

Requires a herculean effort 

As well as the support of family and friends

 

To get up each day knowing that a struggle is ahead 

And march on anyway

To endure the pain of depression 

A pain that cuts deep

 

To reach out to others

When all we want to do is isolate ourselves further

To pursue treatment that is not one size fits all

And to smile from time to time

And carry on with our responsibilities and obligations 

 

These are qualities of a courageous, patient and determined person 

Who doesn’t give up despite the challenges she faces

For days and sometimes months on end

 

So please don’t think we are weak

Have compassion for us

And be part of the group of people

Who help reduce the stigma 

 

December 15th, 2019