Cancer and addiction

Some of you might not agree with my beliefs  that addiction is very similar to cancer and other diseases that pop up in our lives without warning.

I would ask you to read on and reconsider.

My husband was recently diagnosed with cancer and I have found when trying to help him that I have very little control over what he chooses to do and chooses not to do.

Just like addiction the person who suffers with a disease ultimately, holds all the cards. They choose how they are going to deal with the diagnosis and pick what treatments they want and don't want. You can make suggestions, be supportive and you can be there but that does not mean that the person is going to choose your path or the path that you would most like for them.

Their journey is their journey. Cancer just like addiction effects young, old, male, female, every race and every religion, it does not discriminate.

People who have addiction, cancer, or other diseases may or may not have made choices  that made them more susceptible to any of these.

Have any of us REALLY ever made every choice with our 'good health' in mind?

All those Living with a disease can choose to ignore it, choose treatment and of course you can choose to change your mind and not choose. Any and all of these choices could mean life or death.

What I know is that I still believe in hope and love and faith and kindness and mercy and grace as all of those things are present in cancer and all of those things are present in addiction and it is only by believing in those things that we can find the peace that we all need in our souls to heal. 

Open your eyes, look closely at the people around you and please do not judge for they may be fighting a battle you know nothing about.

Please consider when searching for answers to search with love and compassion for all that suffer no matter what the disease.

Please also consider reaching out with love and compassion to all those that love and do their best to take care of all those that suffer from any and all diseases for their journey can be and is usually filled with just as much suffering as the afflicted.

Today and everyday I pray for peace & comfort for everyone everywhere who faces the challenges of being a survivor everyday with peace and love for your journey

Amen,

K

In honor of my wife, yes my wife!

This post is in honor of my wife,

yes my wife; I'll explain.

Many years ago, I met Dawn by chance.

One of those

'in the right place at the right time'

experiences.

From the moment we met we connected

and instantly became best friends.

The problem was that 'best friend' was an understatement.

we were inseparable and became family.

So 'wife' it was. After many years 

we separated for a while.

Why, isn't important. 

Suffice it to say that there was no specific event

or argument, we simply took different paths.

Before I knew it years had passed,

six, to be exact.

Then one day my sister mentioned

having seen her

and I decided that I would reach out.

There was no; hey, wanted to check in,

or hey, what's been going on for six years.

I simply texted her a memory,

to which she replied with a memory,

to which I called and the rest is herstory.

Back together again after all these years

and we, our children, and our spouses

couldn't be happier.

Living with addiction or

loving someone with addiction

causes a lot of break ups.

I know that my daughter and I

'broke up' many times

before she found her way home to find

me right there waiting for her.

Sometimes there is a safety reason,

or a hurt feelings reason,

or even for the reason of betrayal.

Sometimes we need to take a break,

to regroup, 

to see where we belong, and to

find our way back to where we belong,

and who we belong with.

As you read this are you thinking of someone....

Someone whom you may have walked away from

or may have walked away from you?

How long has it been, does this person

pop into your mind on a regular basis.

Juts do it!

Reach out!

If you reach out with your heart and soul

with no expectations and true kindness

I doubt you'll be disappointed

If they respond with that same kindness,

what a blessing.

If they do not respond then you, my friend,

are the blessing and maybe, just maybe someday

they will reach back or open their arms

and welcome you back.

Take the chance

"Every blessing ignored becomes a curse"

                                      -Paulo Coehlo

Peace be with you, with those whom you

have loved and lost,

and with those whom you have

lost and found!

XOX k