Live each day as if it were your last - we hear that a lot. It's one of those pat phrases offered up as sage advice on how to live a worthwhile and fulfilled life.
But practically speaking, it's kind of hard to really do that, even for those who have actually faced it as reality. I mean, if it were really the last day, would we do the laundry?
But how to live the spirit of that idea, I think that's the real question.
In attempting to live that spirit, I am writing this post from the Seoul airport, on my way to Cambodia. I had an opportunity and I took it. It wasn't quite that simple...my first response was to say no. I thought I had too much to do at home. But really, if it were the last day, would I rather be visiting Angkor Wat or doing laundry?
So here I am, on my way to Cambodia. I will attempt to keep up with posting while I'm traveling, maybe some ideas on staying fit while traveling, maybe just some pictures. I didn't bring my computer - a little freaky for me - but I have my iPhone (no, I don't have an iPad yet). This is my first attempt at posting from my phone - a bit slow, but doable.
Well, plane is boarding. Here's to living as if.
Julie
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Maybe An Apology Is Necessary (but not for everything)
I've been thinking a lot about the anonymous comment to my last post. Anonymous thinks I am completely insensitive to cancer patients and all they are going through by suggesting a little exercise might be good.
I am troubled that anyone could read my blog or the Life-Cise website and think that I am senselessly pushing people to exercise beyond their limits. I feel like I should apologize, or at least further explain.
By now there has been enough anecdotal evidence and rigorous research showing vast benefits from exercise throughout cancer treatments that I am so surprised to still encounter the attitude that cancer patients can't do any exercise. (You can find information on recent research on the Life-Cise News page.) I run into this occasionally from doctors and even patient support professionals. I once had the director of patient support at a major cancer center in New York tell me, "You don't understand, our ladies can't possibly do that! They're far too tired to exercise." Given the weight of scientific evidence to the contrary, this attitude shocks me every time!
What is sometimes missing from discussions about exercise, and what I constantly strive to impart to people, is appropriateness. As I said in my last post, there is no one correct amount or type of exercise. What is appropriate for you is completely individual. And it is never constant. Your exercise routine should never be routine! It should always be changing to reflect the current state of your body.
There are times that getting out of a chair or walking to the mailbox is an appropriate fitness challenge. I know, I've been there - too many times. At those times, I tried not to think about it as a failure or that I was too weak to do anything. I tried to see it as what I could do. It might be a shock that I had gone from being a very fit person, climbing mountains and skiing, to someone struggling to stand. But I chose to look at it as simply my starting point. It was just my current state, and a place from which to build.
I have on occasion been accused of being Pollyanna-ish in my outlook. Maybe so. But I also think it's a healthy way to look at it.
And I stand by my strong belief that exercise - whatever constitutes "exercise" for you at any given time - is good for more than just your body. Every time you choose to take the stairs, or go for a run, or struggle to walk to the next room rather than just sit and say you can't do anything, you are choosing health. You are making an active choice for something better than your current situation. You may not be where you want to be yet, but you are choosing to continue heading in that direction. And there is great power in that choice!
Fitness is about so much more than time on a treadmill or numbers on a scale. I strive in my writing and with my clients to stress that what matters is you as an individual. All cancer survivors are survivors in very individual ways. We experience cancer and our treatments (and their side effects) in our own way. So, too, should our fitness plans be individual. That's one of the reasons I offer individual exercise DVDs, developed and shot for each person, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all workout. What someone else is doing doesn't matter. Finding what is appropriate for you does matter.
If I have gotten away from that message of late with all my writing about goals and my own running adventures, I apologize. What I am doing has no bearing on what you can or should be doing - except maybe as a lesson in working toward a goal, or as a little inspiration. Whenever I give workshops, I stress that if people ever see me working out at the gym, they shouldn't be scared or freak out. I work out at a pretty intense level, but I never expect anyone else to do that. I always work with them to find what is safe and appropriate for them.
So, if I have not been clear or have gotten off-message, I apologize. I will try to do better in the future. But I do not apologize for encouraging you to stay involved and accountable for your fitness and your health. To push yourself, to strive for more, to claim the power in making choices. I do not apologize for wishing you great strength. I do not apologize for wanting you to feel as good as possible for as long as possible.
Julie
I am troubled that anyone could read my blog or the Life-Cise website and think that I am senselessly pushing people to exercise beyond their limits. I feel like I should apologize, or at least further explain.
By now there has been enough anecdotal evidence and rigorous research showing vast benefits from exercise throughout cancer treatments that I am so surprised to still encounter the attitude that cancer patients can't do any exercise. (You can find information on recent research on the Life-Cise News page.) I run into this occasionally from doctors and even patient support professionals. I once had the director of patient support at a major cancer center in New York tell me, "You don't understand, our ladies can't possibly do that! They're far too tired to exercise." Given the weight of scientific evidence to the contrary, this attitude shocks me every time!
What is sometimes missing from discussions about exercise, and what I constantly strive to impart to people, is appropriateness. As I said in my last post, there is no one correct amount or type of exercise. What is appropriate for you is completely individual. And it is never constant. Your exercise routine should never be routine! It should always be changing to reflect the current state of your body.
There are times that getting out of a chair or walking to the mailbox is an appropriate fitness challenge. I know, I've been there - too many times. At those times, I tried not to think about it as a failure or that I was too weak to do anything. I tried to see it as what I could do. It might be a shock that I had gone from being a very fit person, climbing mountains and skiing, to someone struggling to stand. But I chose to look at it as simply my starting point. It was just my current state, and a place from which to build.
I have on occasion been accused of being Pollyanna-ish in my outlook. Maybe so. But I also think it's a healthy way to look at it.
And I stand by my strong belief that exercise - whatever constitutes "exercise" for you at any given time - is good for more than just your body. Every time you choose to take the stairs, or go for a run, or struggle to walk to the next room rather than just sit and say you can't do anything, you are choosing health. You are making an active choice for something better than your current situation. You may not be where you want to be yet, but you are choosing to continue heading in that direction. And there is great power in that choice!
Fitness is about so much more than time on a treadmill or numbers on a scale. I strive in my writing and with my clients to stress that what matters is you as an individual. All cancer survivors are survivors in very individual ways. We experience cancer and our treatments (and their side effects) in our own way. So, too, should our fitness plans be individual. That's one of the reasons I offer individual exercise DVDs, developed and shot for each person, rather than offering a one-size-fits-all workout. What someone else is doing doesn't matter. Finding what is appropriate for you does matter.
If I have gotten away from that message of late with all my writing about goals and my own running adventures, I apologize. What I am doing has no bearing on what you can or should be doing - except maybe as a lesson in working toward a goal, or as a little inspiration. Whenever I give workshops, I stress that if people ever see me working out at the gym, they shouldn't be scared or freak out. I work out at a pretty intense level, but I never expect anyone else to do that. I always work with them to find what is safe and appropriate for them.
So, if I have not been clear or have gotten off-message, I apologize. I will try to do better in the future. But I do not apologize for encouraging you to stay involved and accountable for your fitness and your health. To push yourself, to strive for more, to claim the power in making choices. I do not apologize for wishing you great strength. I do not apologize for wanting you to feel as good as possible for as long as possible.
Julie
Saturday, October 22, 2011
What Are You Waiting For?
I ran into a friend the other day. We spent a few minutes on the street catching up. After talking through all of our recent doc visits (she's also a cancer survivor), talk turned to more fun things - exercise.
I talked about my most recent 50-mile race. We both talked about the wonderful addiction of exercise, especially running. But then my friend sheepishly apologized for not getting back to running more seriously since her treatments. Compared to what I was doing, she felt her few miles a week were insignificant.
I never want anyone to compare themselves to what I'm doing! I work out at a pretty intense level most of the time, and I fully admit that what I'm doing is a little crazy. I don't expect anyone else to do what I do.
Fitness achievement is only about you. Your improvement (or lack of) is just about you and where you started. It's a comparison with no one but yourself.... Are you able to do more than you could last month or last year? Are you stronger? Do you feel better than you did before?
The other thing that came up in conversation was the idea that she was sure she'd get back to it once she was through with XXXX. This is a really common idea - Let me just finish chemo or whatever, and then I'll get back to exercising. But there are a couple of problems with this thinking.
First, why wait? Why wait until after treatments, after interviews, after whatever that's keeping you from exercising? I think this idea stems from having basically one idea about what exercise is. We get an idea of what our workouts are. But there's no one way to exercise, and no set amount. Just because you don't have the time or stamina to do the same workout you did before doesn't mean you can't exercise. Do what's appropriate for you right now. If that means shorter or less intense workouts, fine. It's still a workout. Do what you can given your current circumstances.
Second problem is that putting exercise off becomes a habit, just like exercising can be. I used a quote from Martin Luther for yesterday's Life-Cise Daily Tip: How soon "not now" becomes "never". That pretty much sums it up. The act of exercising, as well as the exercise itself, is beneficial. The act of regularly doing something becomes a habit.
In my profile this month for Lucy clothing (www.Lucy.com), I talk about exercising all throughout my cancer treatments. I say that exercising always kept me headed in the right direction, toward health and toward life. My workouts definitely changed through the course of my treatments, but the act of working out didn't. I did whatever I could. I stayed in the habit of choosing health.
I always encourage people to keep exercising. You don't have to do the same things you did last month or 10 years ago, but choosing to do something keeps you in the habit of choosing health.
Julie
I talked about my most recent 50-mile race. We both talked about the wonderful addiction of exercise, especially running. But then my friend sheepishly apologized for not getting back to running more seriously since her treatments. Compared to what I was doing, she felt her few miles a week were insignificant.
I never want anyone to compare themselves to what I'm doing! I work out at a pretty intense level most of the time, and I fully admit that what I'm doing is a little crazy. I don't expect anyone else to do what I do.
Fitness achievement is only about you. Your improvement (or lack of) is just about you and where you started. It's a comparison with no one but yourself.... Are you able to do more than you could last month or last year? Are you stronger? Do you feel better than you did before?
The other thing that came up in conversation was the idea that she was sure she'd get back to it once she was through with XXXX. This is a really common idea - Let me just finish chemo or whatever, and then I'll get back to exercising. But there are a couple of problems with this thinking.
First, why wait? Why wait until after treatments, after interviews, after whatever that's keeping you from exercising? I think this idea stems from having basically one idea about what exercise is. We get an idea of what our workouts are. But there's no one way to exercise, and no set amount. Just because you don't have the time or stamina to do the same workout you did before doesn't mean you can't exercise. Do what's appropriate for you right now. If that means shorter or less intense workouts, fine. It's still a workout. Do what you can given your current circumstances.
Second problem is that putting exercise off becomes a habit, just like exercising can be. I used a quote from Martin Luther for yesterday's Life-Cise Daily Tip: How soon "not now" becomes "never". That pretty much sums it up. The act of exercising, as well as the exercise itself, is beneficial. The act of regularly doing something becomes a habit.
In my profile this month for Lucy clothing (www.Lucy.com), I talk about exercising all throughout my cancer treatments. I say that exercising always kept me headed in the right direction, toward health and toward life. My workouts definitely changed through the course of my treatments, but the act of working out didn't. I did whatever I could. I stayed in the habit of choosing health.
I always encourage people to keep exercising. You don't have to do the same things you did last month or 10 years ago, but choosing to do something keeps you in the habit of choosing health.
Julie
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness
Today, October 13, is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) is the spread of the disease to other parts of the body, typically the bones, brain, lungs, or liver.
For all the pink hoopla of October, it amazes me that metastatic disease gets so little attention. It's estimated that around 155,000 people are living with MBC. Metastatic disease accounts for 40,000 deaths annually in the U.S. And yet, very little attention is paid in all the breast cancer news.
This is one of the problems I (and a lot of other BC survivors) have with all the "awareness" and the positive, feel good breast cancer stories. Yes, we face breast cancer and continue with our lives. Yes, many people find new meaning in their lives. Yes, life is good, even after a cancer diagnosis. Yes, it's great that people feel strong and empowered in spite of a cancer diagnosis - after all, that's what Life-Cise is all about!
But breast cancer - any cancer - is more than a ribbon. It's more than a walk. It's more than something to schedule and take care of so you can make your next meeting.
Early detection does improve chances of long-term survival, but anyone, no matter how early their cancer was detected, can later develop metastatic disease at any time - even years later.
My BC sisters living with MBC go on with their lives. They struggle, they laugh, they love. They raise children, go to work, get married or divorced. They live normal lives - except they live with a breast cancer that has spread and has no cure. They face their fears. They want to live as much or more than anyone. They live with the idea of "treatable, not beatable."
So today, I think of the many friends I have who are currently living with metastatic disease. And I remember the many friends who I have lost.
Julie
for more information on Metastatic Breast Cancer, please visit the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network.
For all the pink hoopla of October, it amazes me that metastatic disease gets so little attention. It's estimated that around 155,000 people are living with MBC. Metastatic disease accounts for 40,000 deaths annually in the U.S. And yet, very little attention is paid in all the breast cancer news.
This is one of the problems I (and a lot of other BC survivors) have with all the "awareness" and the positive, feel good breast cancer stories. Yes, we face breast cancer and continue with our lives. Yes, many people find new meaning in their lives. Yes, life is good, even after a cancer diagnosis. Yes, it's great that people feel strong and empowered in spite of a cancer diagnosis - after all, that's what Life-Cise is all about!
But breast cancer - any cancer - is more than a ribbon. It's more than a walk. It's more than something to schedule and take care of so you can make your next meeting.
Early detection does improve chances of long-term survival, but anyone, no matter how early their cancer was detected, can later develop metastatic disease at any time - even years later.
My BC sisters living with MBC go on with their lives. They struggle, they laugh, they love. They raise children, go to work, get married or divorced. They live normal lives - except they live with a breast cancer that has spread and has no cure. They face their fears. They want to live as much or more than anyone. They live with the idea of "treatable, not beatable."
So today, I think of the many friends I have who are currently living with metastatic disease. And I remember the many friends who I have lost.
Julie
for more information on Metastatic Breast Cancer, please visit the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
#iSad
"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." ~ Steve Jobs, 1955 - 2011
The world lost a visionary yesterday. Steve Jobs died of complications from pancreatic cancer. Tributes have flowed from all over the world. Facebook and Twitter are abuzz with quotes and thank yous. Five of the top 10 trending topics on Twitter are related to Jobs: #ThankyouSteve, #iSad, #ThinkDifferent, #RemeberingSteveJobs, #RIPSteveJobs. I quoted him for the Life-Cise Daily Tip: Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. ~ Steve Jobs.
He was the source of seemingly endless innovations that married form and function elegantly. More than all the gadgets, though, he changed people's relationship to technology and each other. He took technology out of the realm of geeks into the world of moms and grandparents, business people and artists. He helped change how we read, communicate, research, listen. He had a vision of the world as a place where people living anywhere could have access to what they need. And in the process of creating tools to make that happen, he changed how we think, how we communicate, and how we live.
He didn't bring about this revolution by himself, and I'm sure he was not an easy man. He was driven, and stories abound of his being difficult. But in his drive, he changed the world. When he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, he didn't shrink from that vision. His drive continued in spite of treatments. Through it all, he remained the face of Apple. In August of this year, he finally stepped down as Apple's chief.
I find I'm surprisingly saddened by his death. I am inspired by his life. #RIPSteveJobs. #ThankyouSteve.
Julie
The world lost a visionary yesterday. Steve Jobs died of complications from pancreatic cancer. Tributes have flowed from all over the world. Facebook and Twitter are abuzz with quotes and thank yous. Five of the top 10 trending topics on Twitter are related to Jobs: #ThankyouSteve, #iSad, #ThinkDifferent, #RemeberingSteveJobs, #RIPSteveJobs. I quoted him for the Life-Cise Daily Tip: Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. ~ Steve Jobs.
He was the source of seemingly endless innovations that married form and function elegantly. More than all the gadgets, though, he changed people's relationship to technology and each other. He took technology out of the realm of geeks into the world of moms and grandparents, business people and artists. He helped change how we read, communicate, research, listen. He had a vision of the world as a place where people living anywhere could have access to what they need. And in the process of creating tools to make that happen, he changed how we think, how we communicate, and how we live.
He didn't bring about this revolution by himself, and I'm sure he was not an easy man. He was driven, and stories abound of his being difficult. But in his drive, he changed the world. When he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, he didn't shrink from that vision. His drive continued in spite of treatments. Through it all, he remained the face of Apple. In August of this year, he finally stepped down as Apple's chief.
I find I'm surprisingly saddened by his death. I am inspired by his life. #RIPSteveJobs. #ThankyouSteve.
Julie
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