Truly You Life Coaching and Grief Recovery Specialist

A prairie view of Oceanside

For so many years travel was not an option.  Work, family, caregiving all kept us close to home and those priorities.  But you grow by exploring the world beyond your own front door and tiny circle.  Travel is one of the best ways to do that!
  • Home
  • Lynda
    • My Music
    • Books
    • Just my Friend: Advocacy Passion
    • Presentations
    • Testimonials
  • Offerings
    • Grief Recovery Method™
    • Individual Coaching Services
    • Strategic Planning
    • Associates >
      • Mark McGregor
      • Dixie Tomchuk
    • Favorite Links
  • Inner Compass
    • True North Points
  • Musings and Memories
  • Contact

11/27/2014

The Man Cave

1 Comment

Read Now
 
Picture
As I shared a couple of days ago, the husband is in his glory. He has started work on his cabin on the hill.  As you can see by the picture, it would better be described as a grainry, rather than a cabin, because well...that's what it is.  But he sees it's potential, and it enjoying it to no end. 
Picture
He has talked for years about building a retreat for himself up there.  We've watched papers, and auctions, and online selling sites for buildings that might be appropriate and could be purchased for a reasonable price.  Anything we found either was more money that we're willing to spend, or the good deals were missed by minutes.  He's been patient, this isn't a new dream, but it's a dream


This summer when the diagnosis came our lives were sidetracked, he made himself a promise that when he felt better he'd go ahead and act on it.  He's said for years that that little building would work, or he'd make it work and decided that he wouldn't put it off any longer.


So here we are, at some of the coldest days so far this year (a balmy -32 this morning) and where is he?  He's up on the hill in his man cave.  Fitting chimney pipe together, tacking plastic on the walls to keep it warm, dragging an old wood stove up there, so when all of this is done, he'll hopefully have heat.  He is literally freezing his butt of...but is having so much fun and his so happy.  Following through on a dream will do that.


So as we've been frightened into taking a good look at the dreams we hold and realizing we need to take action, I hope that you too can do the same in your life.  It shouldn't take a cancer diagnosis or a life threatening injury to move us into action, but so often that is what we need.  Otherwise we don't give ourselves permission to take those steps.


So I ask you now then,  is there a dream you keep holding at arms length thinking there is still so much time to pursue it?  And is there really?  


Enjoy the day!
Expedia.ca: Vegas Sale - Save Up to 40% When You Book Flight + Hotel Together with Expedia!

Share

1 Comment

10/27/2014

How I put in time in a Hospital Waiting Room

4 Comments

Read Now
 
Picture
A new dawn, a new day, a new chance to begin again.
Today, we are waiting for results from Cecil's follow up CT scan.  Fingers are crossed that the news will be good, and that we can continue our dreams of Celyn Away and enjoying life, but anyone who's ever walked through the world of cancer knows, the waiting can be the worst.
We are hopeful of course, and things looked good after the initial surgery and healing, but there are still those funny little things that the body continues to do that makes you just stop and take notice and to wonder.  The little things that cause the big worries to keep raising their nasty heads. 
I decided to share my writing from the Portage General Hospital waiting room in July when Cecil was undergoing his initial surgery.  Its a good reminder to me at this moment, of continuing to look for the gift, as we wait for the results. 

July 2014: Its been a long time since I've spent time in one of these rooms...and I can't say that I missed it at all. We've managed four years without major health risks or the loss of someone close to our hearts...but ten days ago that changed once again on us. The results of the colonoscopy came back with the biopsy test showing the growth that was found was malignant. Now the questions continue to circle, as we sit waiting for the completion of the surgery that will tell us whether the growth is contained, whether their will be life changing adjustments because of the surgery and of course the big question...whether we are in for a bigger battle than we are aware of at this moment.
Cecil is in surgery as I write this. He was scared going in, we all are. The morning has been slow, the weeks ahead will be as well I fear, with the healing and the waiting to learn where things are at and what is next on our agenda.
I keep trying to ask myself that if everything happens for me, not to me...what is the gift in this...for me...for us? 

My heart tells me that there is one, maybe many...but it has taken much deep thinking and quietly asking my heart.  Here are some answers that have come to me:
  • In sharing with others, I've been reminded of how much love and support we have out there enveloping us. That gets forgotten at times, but we don't have to reach far to find a hand to hold through our family and friends.  We're very lucky.
  • The kids have a chance to step up and be there for and with Cecil, as they've been reminded that he is not as invincible as they'd like to believe he is. They have the opportunity to appreciate him for the father/grandfather he is, and reflect on how he lived so much of his life for them.
  • It's made me step back and think about the man I'm married to. How kind he's always been to me and my family. How much he has done to make my life as easy as it can be, things he's taken off my plate. Endless love he offers, his attention to all that I say, memory of all that I've done, support of all that I do. I know that he's been under appreciated and taken for granted too often. I now have the opportunity to do better from here forward, however long that might be.
  • We've both had some time to reflect on what is really important to us at this time in our lives. The picture is becoming clearer, and if the disease will give us permission, we are more dedicated to moving forward into a life that is more aligned with our own passions and dreams, while we have the health and ability to do that. 
  • It forces us to priorize what really, truly matters, and let go of what doesn't. To rethink how our limited time on earth is going to be spent from here forward.  To make choices one way or another so that we get of the fences we've been sitting on. To realize that none of this can be taken for granted, because life can and does change at the drop of a hat.  We need to keep that in our hearts long after this surgery is over.





My dear friend Bert LeSage once told me "It's hard to hear, but the truth is cancer gives us a gift...the gift of time, to say all that is in our hearts." I keep hearing his voice and seeing his kind, brown eyes, knowing that he knew more than I did at that time. It was the day after Greg, my first husband, had died of the same disease. 
In the 13 years since his passing, I've had time to get to know that Bert was right. Living through my own Mom's brief battle with pancreatic cancer in 2010 I held that thought and embraced every moment, shared every thought that needed to be shared, said every word of love that need to be spoken. 
In the end, with both of them, there was nothing left unsaid or undone...there was loss, but there was peace as well. That peace of heart and mind means so much. I will work towards that same sense of peace now, regardless of whether we are up against a long, hard battle...or whether this has just been a reminder to practice all that I preach and try to teach...to live in the moment, to appreciate everything that we have right now...to love with all my heart. Lesson learned, reminder acknowledged, gift accepted.

Share

4 Comments
Details

    Living our Dreams while Health allows

    Cancer came knocking on our door again in July of 2014.  It's visited before, through different times and people, myself included.  This time it dropped by to remind us that life is short and precious.  It came to remind us that in our 50s, things can and likely will change quickly, so start doing what you've been  promising yourself you would do!  

    Archives

    June 2017
    June 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All
    Boating
    Cancer
    Cancer Treatment
    Change
    Dreams
    Embracing Life
    Facing Fears
    Fear Of The Unknown
    Hospitals
    Life Changing
    Life Threatening
    Looking For The Silver Lining
    Passion
    Retirement
    Travel

    RSS Feed


My first love has always been music.  Writing songs and putting words the my life experiences has brought me joy for as long as I can remember, I hope it will do the same for you.
  ALL MY MUSIC IS NOW AVAILABLE ON ​ ITUNES AS WELL AS CDBABY
​  Please note, as part of my ongoing effort to raise money to support grief recovery and disability work, I am an affiliate for the products I promote, and may receive a commission.
”“We are a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.”
Thank you  
Created by Lynda Dobbin-Turner, Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Lynda
    • My Music
    • Books
    • Just my Friend: Advocacy Passion
    • Presentations
    • Testimonials
  • Offerings
    • Grief Recovery Method™
    • Individual Coaching Services
    • Strategic Planning
    • Associates >
      • Mark McGregor
      • Dixie Tomchuk
    • Favorite Links
  • Inner Compass
    • True North Points
  • Musings and Memories
  • Contact