I think I need to read my book
The lesson of the book: never give up!
As my post title says, I think I need to go back and read my own book. If you’ve visited recently, you know that I am getting close to releasing From Incurable to Incredible: Cancer Survivors Who Beat the Odds. If all goes well, it should be out by late next month.
But it’s been a while since I’ve worked on all of the inspirational stories in it. And I need inspiration right now. I’ve been feeling spurts of frustration, anger, fear and sadness the past week over my latest scan results (for details read previous posts). I wanted the scans to show the cancer was gone and it didn’t. I want to be able to say I finally found a magic formula to make it all go away. I guess I haven’t…yet.
Here I am writing a book about miracle survivors; I want to claim I am one of them. But it’s not about being in remission; several of the people in the book are still in treatment for the disease. My book is about surviving and thriving despite given circumstances. It’s about not giving up and having faith that you can make it… no matter what statistics indicate.
I’ve asked several influential people whom I admire to read my manuscript and offer testimonials. In a previous post, I shared what Bernie Siegel, MD, author of the best-selling book, Love, Medicine and Miracles, had to say.
Another person I asked was Terry McBride, author of the book, The Hell I Can’t. His book is amazing and I’d recommend it to anyone.Terry also was told he had an incurable disease, but as the title of his book suggests, he wasn’t going to let anyone tell him he couldn’t be cured from it! He endured 27 surgeries in 11 years to treat an e-coli infection that was eating away his spine and flesh. Doctors predicted he’d never walk, but today he is the most healthy vibrant person you’d ever meet.
When I was going through my darkest period after my initial recurrence, Terry volunteered to coach me on using prayer, visualization, affirmations and other techniques to help change my negative thinking and realize my dreams. And here I am living one of them: releasing my book!
Terry’s story reminds me that no matter how long it takes to beat this cancer, I need to stay determined and encouraged that I will do it. So many of the people in my book share similar stories. Their healing did not occur overnight. It often took years of enduring many setbacks. Thanks to Terry and other people I’ve met along the way, I have a strategy to follow. I need to continue it.
This post is getting a little long, so I’ll share what Terry said about my book tomorrow. I think he did a better job than I did describing it. So come by and visit to see it!
Sheridan Barnes says:
Ups & downs are part of the natural ebb and flow of life. Allow yourself time for both. Those down times have wisdom. We’ve developed certain coping patterns for a reason and when we can honor the purpose they’ve served for us…, well I think it sends love to those parts of ourselves that did the best they could, given the circumstances,. As a sufi teacher I know says, bring all parts of yourself to the table. Also, thanks for being real. It’s a wonderful lesson to allow & embrace. And it takes less energy. Thanks for a forum to put my 2 cents into. Your doing an awesome job, Tami.
Ashley says:
It is the setbacks part that I think we find most discouraging, I do anyway. I can’t wait to say it is gone and I don’t expect an overnight… but I really hate it when they say it is worse, I can handle ‘just a little better’ or even ‘unchanged’. It gets frustrating to feel like you are doing good things and have them not come together.
Be good to you. You’ll kick it back down, this is just temporary.
sam elliston says:
I love your honesty. That’s the first step, isn’t it? And as both Ashley and Sheridan say, this “down” time is part of the healing.
Maybe you need to start writing the sequel so you can interview some more of the wonderful people who have lived and survived this disease.
On Saturday night, I heard a powerful speaker say, “If you are breathing, give thanks. And that’s all you need to do because the divine loves you exactly as you are.” I have been conscious of my breathing ever since -
Debby says:
Your cancer has allowed you to affect so many people. A perverse thought I know but hold on to that. It’s improtant to us. You would do well to quit focusing on the “cure” part and celebrate the “incredible” part because you truly are.
Joanne Maly says:
Tami, you are the ‘incredible’ in your book title and you are an absolute inspiration.
Remember the book jacket says: “The lesson of the book: Never give up.”
Your heart and spirit radiate from your eyes and soul and shine through in your Miracle Survivor blog posts. Thank you for that and for who you are.
Prayers are coming your way as I click ‘submit comment.’
Joanne
tamilb says:
Thanks so much for your kind comments! I feel like I get more from doing this blog than what I give.This is an example.Your Comment…
Cathy Wolfe says:
It is the obstacles that we conquer in life that provides us additional strength, courage, and wisdom to prepare us for the next one.
You are truely an inspiration to all of humanity, Tami.