New Normal
This is a reblog of the post I did a year ago. I updated the first line of the post.
This month marks the 8th anniversary of Remission from my cancer!!
What was my normal schedule and activities all my life until 2008?
Getting up before 6:00 a.m.
Rushing to get on the road to go to work
Multitasking on the job and loving it
Keeping up with cooking dinner and other chores
Keeping up with all the family and social activities
Traveling one to three trips a year
What happened from summer 2008 to summer 2009?
Melanoma Cancer
Six months of chemotherapy
Four surgeries
Five weeks of radiation
What is my new normal?
Thank God for retirement, or else I would not be able to do the following:
Deal with the side effect of chemotherapy – lymphedema on the legs
Unable to fall asleep until the numbness and tingling of my legs subside
Time to get up would have to depend on the time I fall asleep the night before
Running errands is as big a job as climbing mountains
Making two to three stops are manageable, the fourth one has to wait for another day
Elevating my legs and resting is a daily route, whereas years ago I considered it as wasting time
Exercise is a necessity, not a luxury
Priority is the key to manage my schedule
Something for my spiritual, physical, mental life, and make time to be a blessing to others
No promise is made to do everything and I don’t feel guilty if I can’t do it
God bless my being, even when I can’t measure up with my doing!
~
The Showers of Blessings 
Congratulations on this wonderful milestone! 💗
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Thank you! I’m grateful to be living and doing my very best!
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I’m sorry for your loss. Cancer sucks. My aunt passed away from pancreatic cancer and she missed. But my brother survived cancer! Sending positive thoughts your way. Stay healthy.
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Thank you so much, Dawn! Sorry for your loss of your aunt. pancreatic cancer is nasty. I’m sure she is missed. I’m glad your brother survived. Thank you for your good thoughts!
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Great testimony. Best wishes and keep being strong. 🙂
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Thank you so much!
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Pingback: Today’s Forgiving Fridays: A Fun 7 Days of Forgiveness! – ForgivingConnects
Thank you, Debbie!
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Congratulations, Miriam! Your post is inspiring to one who has just passed her 5th year anniversary from ovarian cancer, I’m forever grateful for each day and I too remember way back then living from one moment to the next. Thank you for sharing…
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Yes, unforgettable moments. Congratulations to your 5th anniversary. Thank you for sharing. Hope that you’ll stay well and clear.
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My pleasure and thank you so much for your heartfelt wishes!
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You’re welcome!! Stay healthy!
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You, too!
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Yes, thank you!
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So happy for you Miriam. This is great news! I hope it stays gone. I’m popping by to say hi. I haven’t had much of a chance to do so lately. Hope all continues to be well. You’re in my prayers!
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Thank you so much for popping in. I saw your poem being posted on the online website. It’s excellent. It looks like they are open to submission of all kinds of literature writing! My first glance of the image, I thought it was you!!
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If you mean spillwords they are awesome. Haha not quite but thank you. I go to unsplash.com for a lot of photos I use. They are free to use and taken by people who love photography and sharing their photos.
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Yes, I used two of unsplash.com photos. Somehow I don’t have the habit of using them. I should use them more often and follow the photographers.
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Yeah there are good images in many places. I love how clear and vibrant the unsplash photos are. Or if they are in black and white they are always clear and crisp 🙂
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Yes, because they are the original photos from the photographers, whereas other places may not have originals or reused or the reused!
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Thanks again!
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You’re welcome!
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Its great news, Miriam that you have celebrated your 8th anniversary in spite of all the challenges that chemo has posed you with. Sending in prayers and blessings that you will find strength to cope up and maintain your health, daily routine and have many many more such anniversaries.
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Thank you for your prayers and blessings and kind words!
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Your most welcome, Miriam
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I appreciate that!
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😍☺️
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🙂 🙂
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An inspiring post ✨ God bless you
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Thank you so much! I had a support group that prayed for me, called me, sent me cards, brought me meals. I couldn’t have done it with so much love and support and encouragement. God is always good!
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You are an inspiration to others who are where you were back then. 🌹👍❤️
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Thank you, Elaine. I just did it one minute at a time back then!!!! I’m glad it was 8 years ago!
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Miriam, I am so grateful that you reblogged this post for Forgiving Fridays. The blessings of your blog are clearly touching to so many — including me!!! I particularly love what you wrote about not feeling guilty if you couldn’t do something. Wow. That takes such wisdom.
Thank you, thank you for sharing this experience – I am honored to share it this Friday!! It is a testament to acceptance, compassion, forgiveness and taking really good care of yourself. Have an amazing time with your family and CONGRATULATIONS. Love, Debbie ❤
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Oh good, Debbie, you got it. I was worrying about that last night because I did the pingback to your Forgiving Friday Blog but not to last Friday’s post. I wasn’t sure if you got it. So I got up from bed and redid the pingback to your last Friday’s post.
You’re welcome! I remember something I said during my chemo treatment that I didn’t want to waste my suffering. I shared what I said with my support group, and I’m glad to share this post with your readers!
I’m leaving in 1 1/2 days and getting excited. Love, Miriam
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Aww Miriam, thank you for doing that! Sending much love and Light to your trip. Wow, that’s very exciting. ❤ I see you walking in the arms of love. God bless you Mriam. Thank you so much. Love, Debbie
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Thank you, Debbie. I’m all packed. I hope you made some progress looking for a new place!
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Hi, I nominated you to the Versatile Blogger Awards, http://www.budgettraveler.ph/budget-traveler-nominated-to-the-versatile-blogger-award/
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Thank you so very much!
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Congrats….I adore this. 😀 😀
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Thank you, Cee. I do understand the physical limitation and be content with it!
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Good evening 🐞
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Good evening!
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Good evening Miriam 🐞
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Good afternoon to you!
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Good evening 🐞
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Good morning to you on Monday!
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It’s evening here. I got there in the morning. time in Turkey at 22:52 🐞
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I think you’re 9 hours ahead then.
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I understand. I finished the day. you are just getting started. 🙂 🐞🐞🐞
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Yes, we are in the opposite of the globe.
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Yes, the world is turning. 🐞🐞🐞
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Yes, I’m glad it’s turning!
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Such a lot to be thankful for Miriam.
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Yes, Brigid, I was thankful throughout the treatment, and I have been even more thankful ever since!
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Thanking God for your healing Miriam, and thank you for always being uplifting messages and images. You my dear are a treasure :):) God Bless you 🙂
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Thank you, Margaret! I asked for blessings and be a blessing to others when I was 26. Ever since then, God has done miracles in my life through hardships and helps me to develope compassions toward people. God answers prayers in His own way!
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Amen and great testimony :):)
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Thank you, Margaret!
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You are most welcome 🙂
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♥*♥*♥*♥*♥*♥
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Congratulations on your remission! It sounds like lots of patience and forgiveness help get you through the day. I pray your body continues to heal and those side effects eventually fade away. New normal has so many parallels.
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Thank you, Elizabeth! After my treatment, I went back to work for one more year to get the most from my retirement. After I was retirement, my job was to take care of myself. Then I took up some manageable responsibilities one at a time. I’m blessed to be able to do it on my own timing! Yes, new normal can mean many things to people in different situations!
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This is a lovely post of perseverance and determination, Miriam. You are remarkable.
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Thank you, Robbie! Recognize my limitation and enjoy what I can do really help my days!
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What a great reflection Miriam. I wish you all the very best and many blessings for your health and happiness. Lorelle 🙂
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Thank you so much, Lorelle. He is good and I’m blessed!
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What providence of God that you have been in remission for these 8 years!
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Yes, thank you Wally. Will keep my maintenance!
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Blessed are you indeed! Stay healthy and forever cancer free!!💕😚
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Thank you for your kind words!
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Hi Miriam. Congratulations. I hope your remain permanently cancer free.
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Thank you, Kim. It seems like it’s possible. Someone was cancer free from melanoma for 30 years and showed me scars of surgeries. My treatment was very aggressive, and the drug burned me down to skin and bone. So I keep my fingers across!
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