Sofia’s Wisdom: 2014 Year End Insights (Freewrite)

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friends, Gratitude, inner strength, life's challlenges, perserverance, running, Sofia's Wisdom, support, survival, unemployment

Image: maf04

2014 has been, overall, a very difficult year for me. I can’t say I’m sad to see it end. However, even in the bad times which included recovery from toe surgery that pretty much tanked my running abilities, high job stress that did indeed result in being laid off & unemployed for 5 months and sadness realizing who wasn’t there & didn’t have my back after so many years of having their’s…I’ve also seen and done some great things.

I’ve completed 9 races (no medal for Moffitt) which tells me just how much I can take to see things through to a finish. I can say I have a crown 😃. I got to participate in 3 inaugural races. One of which I overcame my fear of heights and ran over one of the highest bridges. Another had me not give up for 12 hours to achieve @29 miles and finishing an Ultra. I made it to Key West finally & ran the 5k bandaged toe in hiking sandals and discovered I love Bloody Marys and KW sunsets. I thankfully had enough banked frequent flyer and Hilton points to be able to go home to see family, my niece’s wedding and some high school friends who I hadn’t seen since graduating in 1987! I got to see Annapolis after 14 yrs. I still love that place. And at the eleventh hour I witnessed so many things come together that resulted in me accepting a job right before Christmas! So even in the darkness, the light shines through and I keep going on my “race course” of life knowing I am a strong “muther f*cker” and that can’t be taken away from me! Thanks everyone who’s been there this 2014 when I reached out for help. Many of you know that it’s not easy for me to do. 😍

Sofia- Wisdom of the Ages blog and project will continue in 2015. Giving my new employment position, I may have to re-structure my posts and frequency. So have patience with me as I figure this out. I can feel that this is going to be a great year! Heres to an amazing, happy, healthy and prosperous 2015!!

Sofia’s Wisdom: Cancer Can Change How You View Life – A Survivor’s Story

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breast cancer, Cher, determination, insight, life, mastectomy, Roman Catholic, self-care, Sofia's Wisdom, spirituality, support, survivorship, wisdom

Photo by: maf04 (under CC sharing rights)

What would you do if you were told you had breast cancer? Any men reading this? You too could be told you have breast cancer. It’s not just a female disease. So…what would you do? Would you fight? Would you go to all lengths possible in order to fight and win against this disease? Say you decide to fight against it with all that’s available and all you have inside of you. And you survive…maybe you’re even bold enough to say you won. You celebrate every year after on the date you were told you were cancer free. The years pass…5 years…a decade…18 years…then WHAM! It comes back. What would you do then? How has your attitude changed? Your approach to going to battle against this disease once again when you had thought you were in the clear…almost 2 decades?

Well, that’s the situation Susan Ricci has lived. Susan is a breast cancer survivor, two times over. I interviewed Susan back in October 2014 while home for a family visit. I wanted to share her story because of her strength and will to live. I am grateful that she agreed to sit down, speak with me and allow me to share her story with everyone. I’m hoping she agreed not just because we’re family. We may not be blood but she has been my “godsister” all my life. Pretty much makes her family. 😉

Susan is very candid about her memories of being diagnosed the first time and then a second time. Shares about her decision during her second battle with breast cancer to undergo elective double mastectomy. Her recovery the second time has not been as smooth as the first; yet she fights on to live life to the fullest every day. She opens up about the differences in her approach to fight and the types of support she had during each bout. A song by Cher has been almost an anthem to her to keep going, keep getting up to fight. Thank you Cher for giving her the will to fight because you helped keep Susan in our lives. She has a stronger will than me. Ultimately, what Susan shows is that you can’t fight alone when battling any cancer. It takes a family and what Susan now knows is that family isn’t always just your blood but your extended family, your network, other survivors and yes, even a song by a favorite singer.

This is Susan’s answer to the question, “what would you do if you were told you had breast cancer…twice?” Please share this video, especially if you know of someone fighting to win against breast cancer.

Living With Alzheimer’s Disease – A Caregiver’s Experience

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Alzheimer's Disease, caregiving, coping strategies, faith, health, support, video documentaries

Last week, I sat down with Larry to discuss his views on life. What occurred was a conversation that lasted about an hour. Larry provided great details about his life, his belief in God, how he views and approaches life. He has a great insight on how to succeed in life no matter what may come. His work ethic is superior and has done well providing for his family. I look forward to sharing his words of wisdom regarding life with you in the near future.

Larry’s story is also about his amazing love for his wife of well over 30 years, Callie. Callie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2008. Together, Larry and Callie have been living with this insidious disease and the effects it wrecks not only on the diagnosed person but their loved ones. Larry discusses how their faith in God helps them cope today. As you may know, it is a constant battle trying to keep your loved one with Alzheimer’s living in the home. Many have to move their family member to an assisted living facility or nursing home because it becomes too much. Larry is honest about both the bad and the good, the happiness and the sadness one experiences when living with Alzheimer’s in your home. Callie once told Larry not to worry, that God would take care of her. He lives with her words and strength in their beliefs that this will continue to happen.

I hope you will see  in this video what a great couple Larry and Callie are. “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mark 10:9