Tag Archive | Life

Sunny day

Apr15

 

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Sunny days are fleeting 

The clouds always gather and rain falls

It’s like the days of our lives

We need to enjoy the sunny days

Sit outside

Go for walks

Soak up the sunshine

Because most likely tomorrow it will rain

Challenges will come

Illness may visit

Stressful situations my arise

But like real rain

These days are the days that water the ground

Of our hearts and souls

They may not be our favorite days

But they are necessary for our growth 

Without rain, we don’t have lush gardens and meandering rivers

Without rain, we don’t appreciate the sunny days as much

Today is a sunny day

And I’m sitting in the sun

April 14th, 2023

Six months

Apr4

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Six months of chemo is almost finished

It seemed so long to begin with

But life goes on 

Some months were easier and some more challenging

But if the result is good, it’s been worth it 

My hair fell out

That was traumatic

It’s growing now

That makes me happy

My nails got dark 

But I’ve painted them and they look good

That funny taste in my mouth

Does not go away

And I look forward to it being gone

Nausea only the first three months

Fatigue mostly in those months too

Maybe I was lucky to have only these side effects

It can always be worse

Now I look forward

Two operations and radiation therapy

That should be six months too

But life goes on 

And it will be over before I know it

April 3rd, 2023

The answer is no!

Mar5

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You want me to cover my hair

I say no!

You say it’s the sign of piety

I say no!

You say it will protect me from harm

I say no!

You say otherwise I’ll excite men

I say no!

You can’t convince me to do something I don’t want to do

You don’t realize how strong I am

You have tried to put me down

But each time, you see me rise 

You fear me and my courage 

You should!

I am determined and won’t back down 

I will continue this fight 

I see you are worried and

You should be! 

Women, life, liberty!

March 2023 

Let us breathe

Feb15

 

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What we want is an ordinary life

We don’t ask for much

Just allow us to wear what we want

What’s the harm in that?

Just allow us to speak freely

What are you afraid of?

Just allow us these normal things

Safety in the streets

Practicing our religion

Equality regardless of ethnicity

Just treat women like you treat men

This is the 21st century

The old ways of looking at the world do not work

Old rules and laws do not suit our society 

What we ask for are simple things 

Just let us breathe!

February 25th, 2023

My choices

Feb6

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The life I’ve chosen

Is the best life for me

Not for anyone else

Comparing my choices to that of others is not productive

We all have different aspirations in the world

Mine can be very different from yours

All that matters is that I’m content with the choices I’ve made

Even the unconventional ones

Even the ones that turn heads

All that matters is that I examine my life

And see if I’m satisfied 

There are no right choices or wrong ones

Once we make a choice

We need to accept the consequences

We make the best decision we can with what we know at the time

No looking back

Only going forward

February 5th, 2023

My scars

Feb2

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Over time, scars become part of us

They reflect the experiences we’ve had 

And hardships we have endured

They decorate our body

And tell a story to whoever is willing to listen

I have a scar on my wrist which I’ve had since my childhood

I don’t even think of it as a scar anymore

It’s just how the inside of my left wrist looks like

It happened when I was 5 or 6

I broke a glass window as I tried to stop myself

After having run towards it

I no longer remember the pain or the bloody scene

All I know is that I survived it

My breast cancer scars will become of part of me too

I’ll accept them and see them as a part of my healing

January 31st, 2023

Vulnerability

Jan27

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Some people don’t like to share their cancer story
I understand that
It’s a personal matter
And often not easy to talk about
But for me, it has been the cause of
Connecting with old friends
And receiving a lot of support and love
It’s hard to be vulnerable
Less than perfect 
But revealing our vulnerability has many rewards
We get everyone’s love and support
And their prayers for healing
We can connect to others on a deeper level
It’s a win win in my opinion
But it took some years for me to be this open
With my challenges in life
I had to learn to trust
To know that others will only give me their unconditional love
I had to understand the value of community
Of reaching out
And I’m so grateful for all of your love




January 27th, 2023

Blessings

Jan26

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Every situation in life can bring sunshine into our lives

Even the most challenging ones

The outpourings of love I receive continuously is a gift

I keep receiving because of my cancer experience

Talking to friends I haven’t talked to for years

Feeling blessed for having so many good friends

Being comforted and strengthened by their kind words

Receiving their prayers and well wishes

I’m not saying it’s all fun and games

Of course there are difficult times

Of course it was a shock 

Chemo is no walk in the park

Surgery involves pain and a slow recovery

But when all is said and done

Any difficult situation brings with it gifts as well

And the best gift I have received so far

Is the onrushing deluge of the love of my friends 

January 26th, 2023

On my mother’s back

Nov12

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I am the baby on my mother’s back

I still sport a baby-do

My mother is a proud African woman

She feels secure and self-assured

She carries me on her back and a bowl on her head

She can do many things at once

She holds her head up 

As if saying, I’ve got this baby

Stay close to me and I will take care of you 

The world can be a scary place sometimes

But It it full of loving people too 

We rely on the goodness of others

We rely on the spirit of our ancestors

And we take one strong step after another 

On this journey called life

It is OK to be scared sometimes

It is OK to feel pain and sorrow

Those things are part of life too

But for now, I’m here for you 

To help you and support you and love you

At the beginning of your journey when you need my strength 

November 10th, 2022

Love is what life is about

Oct29

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Love is what life is about

The encouraging words of a friend

A thoughtful gift sent in times of illness

A phone call to see how you are

And even though these things happen sometimes

During challenging times

The love one feels 

Makes one feel alive

And cheers one’s soul

Love is what life is about 

October 29th, 2022