I have always been organized and never a procrastinating person. I had a plan for my career, my vacations, and my life. You can imagine my surprise when I received an invasive aggressive breast cancer diagnosis. Breast cancer was not in my plans. It wasn’t even on my radar. I was forced to open up my plan book and add a new chapter.
As breast cancer awareness month winds down I wonder how many other women felt like me? How many other families had to cancel vacations, alter their roles, or give up careers? How many other women added not a new chapter to their life but a whole new book as I did?
I never would have thought that my breast cancer diagnosis would lead me to a new career path. A life threatening diagnosis can bring out different responses in different people. For me the response was to look at this life plan I had and not just edit it but start fresh. Starting my own Sleepwear Company, www.haralee.com gave me a new path, purpose and career. To be able to be my own boss, to be able to do something that helps others and to be able to give back to charity is the new plan for my life.
Change is difficult but achievable. Change in health, family, career, and income can all cause stress to a well planned order life. The joy is taking the changes and making a fuller life. I wish all breast cancer survivors the joy of survivorship in their new lives.
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Diane, I have had the same thoughts. For me I think I had my head down and was working for Corporate America and climbing up the corporate ladder. I was doing what I thought was expected. I think many people are that way and are too scared to pick up their heads and look around. My diagnosis brought my head up with a snap!
October 28, 2009 - 9:22amThis Comment
Haralee,
I too love this post. I can very much identify with your lists and planning (though I have ADD and am a procrastinator, so I'm not sure I'm as successful at an organized life as you were!). It is as though the lists, goals and reminders serve to help us feel in control of a busy, multi-layered life -- and then something like a health crisis, a layoff, or a sudden loss happens, and we realize we really have no actual "control" at all.
Here's my question. Why does it take such a challenge for us to get in touch with our "higher" selves or to change our lives? So many people say that while they struggled with their crisis, they would not wish it away because of what it also brought to their lives. Yet without a crisis, we are so afraid to change our lives, to take a leap of faith. That perceived "control" acts like a security blanket -- and sometimes paralyzes us as well.
October 28, 2009 - 7:52amThis Comment
You are so right. I know people who became docotrs because of an ill sibling or parent. Then as you mention on the other side I know people who are deadbeats because that is what their parents were. You have to wonder why some exceed and some don't.
October 26, 2009 - 12:55pmThanks for your kind words.
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