Wednesday Dip

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I find that most times I am my own worst distraction. Which is probably why I put so much energy into work and advocacy. It takes me out of my own head. That said, I am being told -- externally and internally that I...ABSOLUTELY...NEED...TO...SLOW...DOWN.

It is when I slow down, however, that I become more acutely aware of the crowded real estate masquerading as my brain.

I shared with someone that I wanted to come back in my next life as a Bottle nosed Dolphin. That then, I would slow down.

She guffawed and said that even as a Dolphin I would dive (bad pun intended) into fostering baby dolphins and create and run a non-profit: SMfMR (Sea Mammals for Marine Restoration). 

She is spot on. And, quite frankly, it doesn't sound like a bad plan.

Random Thought Sunday (10/16/2011)

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We need another label. These just don't work for me.

Yes, technically I am a patient, since I am undergoing treatment for a chronic disease. But the word "patient" conjures up antiseptic hospital rooms and off-the rack backless gowns. This just does not speak to me.

The definitions of survivor make my skin crawl. ...remaining alive after...others have died. True, to some extent, for some.    ...copes well with difficulties in life. Coping is relative. Coping well is purely subjective. Ironically, it is the public expectation that persons with cancer do nothing but cope well. No one likes a poorly or misbehaved person dealing with cancer. They don't make good poster icons for fundraisers. I can't fit myself into the paradigm of survivor.

Victim resonates: tricked, duped, offered up as a sacrifice to the pink industry. But victimization also requires a certain acquiescence. I will not go down that path.

We need another label, or better yet ... no label at all.

 pa·tient
 noun     /pey-shuh nt]

                1. A person who is under medical care or treatment.
              
              2. A person or thing that undergoes some action.

              3. Archaic ~  A sufferer or victim.

peɪʃənt/ Show Spelled

sur·vi·vor

noun /sərˈvīvər/  A person who survives, esp. a person remaining alive after an event in which others have died The remainder of a group of people or things A person who copes well with difficulties in their life A joint tenant who has the right to the whole estate on the other's death vic·tim noun /ˈviktəm/  A person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action A person who is tricked or duped A living creature killed as a religious sacrifice