February 2021
“Follow Your Heart”
The heart shape is recognized the world over as a symbol of romantic love and affection. Therefore, the Positive Living theme for this month; “Follow Your Heart” is fitting as February honors American Heart Month and Valentine’s Day is celebrated.
American Heart Month brings awareness to the importance of heart health. This initiative was proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and first took place in February 1964. It seeks to remind Americans to focus on their heart health and encourage them to get their families, friends and communities involved.
Are you aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States? Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women; lung cancer kills more women each year.
While gender, age, and family history are some risk factors for heart disease that you cannot control, there are risk factors that can be addressed with lifestyle changes and/or medications. These risk factors include being overweight, eating an unhealthy diet, having high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, and physical inactivity. Therefore, it is important to take charge of your life and know your body. When out of range, numbers for your weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, total cholesterol and body mass index can have a detrimental impact on your wellness.
You must decide how you will address any heart risk factors that you are experiencing. Take the time to review these simple healthy tips for your heart from the link below and enjoy them throughout the year. The benefits will be delightful as you focus on Positive Living.
https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageNavigator/21daychallenge.html
“A Handbook for Positive Living A Through Z”
Positive Living is about taking charge of your life by making choices that are beneficial to your body, mind, and spirit. This month’s weekday posts align with three chapters from my book. Chapter D; “Do Respond; Don’t React” gives you strategies to help honor your strength, view challenges as opportunities and positively deal with frustrating situations.
Chapter E, “Bring Positive Energy to Self and Others” helps you address your own physical, emotional, and spiritual needs; thus, improving your life through changes that can become everyday habits. And Chapter F conveys the importance that having fun should not be lost by being on overload with adult responsibilities. You must take time for yourself and family, and schedule activities together to find a balance between fun and responsibilities.
And why should you follow your heart?
When you follow your heart, you will begin to focus on what truly matters and will be better able to deal with situations because you know that things happen for a reason and teach you lessons.  Self-growth occurs from those lessons; you are who you are because of what happened in the past. Now, if something speaks to your heart, step out in faith. You must believe in your dreams and have the courage to pursue what it takes to achieve those dreams. Stumbling blocks are steppingstones that give you the opportunity to review and reflect upon needed changes for your journey. You’ll be guided to the right path by listening to your heart and believing in yourself.
I am so happy that I followed my heart in 2012.
After many years of dealing with fibroids in both breasts, I was diagnosed with stage one cancer: left breast at eleven o’clock. There is a strong history of cancer in my family; my mother having breast cancer that eventually took her life along with my sister’s passing from ovarian cancer. I had been monitored closely over the years but always believed because of my holistic practices and healthy lifestyle I would not be affected.
One aspect of careful monitoring was having a physical exam in January, a breast mammography each May, and an MRI in September. In 2011, I had forgotten to have the MRI and a reminder from my doctor’s office at the end of the year prompted me to have this procedure.
Yes, a tumor was found, biopsied and tested positive for cancer. My surgeon recommended a lumpectomy and 30 radiation treatments. There are many success stories based on this treatment. However, I was worried about having radiation near my thyroid and concerned with wound healing issues if recurrence demanded a more invasive surgery. My heart told me to seek another opinion and after a visit to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa Florida where all options were presented, I decided to schedule surgery at Moffitt for a double mastectomy and, in time a total hysterectomy.
The breast surgery took place on February 29th and as I researched the significance of this day, I found it is a day to bring awareness to something you wish to carry out (leap forward) and a time for healing.
I wanted to leap forward with successful breast surgery and recuperate, then follow-up with a total hysterectomy to remove ovaries and help eliminate estrogen from my body. I wanted to heal, be well and be able to share my experiences with others as I am now doing through this Positive Living initiative.
When I returned home after breast surgery, I could not lift my arms above kitchen counter height. I knew that I had to take time for myself, be grateful for the superb medical treatment, pray, walk each day, continue a healthy lifestyle and do my arm exercises. Being an avid golfer was a true motivator for these exercises, but I found them to be boring.  Consequently, I performed this therapy during my walks.  As I strolled down the beach, I would do airplanes with both arms extended, a cheerleader to raise my arms and spider crawls to move the fingers and lean the arms at an upward angle. I took 12 weeks instead of 8 to get back playing golf so that I’d be better able to swing a club and was blessed with the fact that the medical review team at the hospital felt no further treatment was needed…as in no chemotherapy, radiation, or medication
Again, I followed my heart when the hysterectomy was scheduled for June of that year and my body did not feel ready. Upon consultation, it was rescheduled for December 2012.   In December I completed my health plan with a hysterectomy; was able to get my life back in order, continue teaching at the university and be fitted for comfortable breast forms. Eventually Angela Jolie’s public sharing of her choices for prophylactic surgery on breasts and ovaries helped validate my decisions and bring awareness to others facing similar situations.
Several years after surgery, while at the register in a local department store, the clerk offered me a coupon for an upcoming bra sale that included a fitting. I declined and she cheerfully tried to explain the benefit of the fitting and the awesome sale price of bras. I explained that I like to shop sales but had to wear a special bra due to having a bilateral mastectomy. She profusely apologized for promoting the bra sale to me. I explained that I was not offended but rather complimented.  I told her: “Your offer of the coupon helped confirm that my appearance and breast forms make me look natural and complete.”
Remember: Choices for thoughts and actions are yours to make; you are in control. Therefore, think happy thoughts, eat healthy foods, exercise; love yourself so that you’ll be better able to love and care for others…and don’t forget to follow your heart.
With sincere blessings,
Lora
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