For many in the US, celebrating Thanksgiving represents a chance to reflect on what we are truly grateful for. At survivingbreastcancer.org we recognize that gratitude matters, and plays a critical role in positive reinforcement. We are eternally grateful to all of our community and Board members, medical advisors, sponsors, collaborators, and you. In addition we have recently reached out to our community to ask what they are grateful for.
What follows are five of the prominent themes that members of our community shared that they are most grateful for:
1.) Family, friends and loved ones ranked highest: We found that the loving and mutually respectful support and comfort that is derived from this group enables us to collectively meet the challenge of a breast cancer diagnosis.
2.) The SBC breast cancer community: Playing a role within our vaunted community significantly adds to the positivity and understanding of our prognosis and future. Those who are newly diagnosed can take advantage of the experiences of those who came before them, with the associated offers of hope and support. SBC allows for us to experience cancer not in isolation, but rather, with our new breast cancer family.
3.) Positive people: what a difference positivity makes in the healing process as we continue to navigate our way through the trials and tribulations of this heinous diagnosis.
4.) Intimacy: The majority of this beautiful community have been deprived of estrogen, or have experienced surgical scarring, breast tissue reduction or breast removal, and note that the associated lack of sex drive can be countered with a timely, loving embrace, e.g., hugging, handholding and loving proximity. Note: The opportunity to spend physical time with your loved ones is something that we feel should never be taken for granted—as we’ve come to know all too well in this community.
5.) Random acts of kindness: in this day and age we are bombarded by negativity on TV, in the news, at work, responses to the COVID-19 virus and our Social Media. How refreshing it is to observe in real time, or through the lens of SM, a random act of kindness. We have all come across/viewed an act of kindness and immediately have felt the benefit of the intentionality.
And so we close by asking “Have you performed a small random act of kindness to another, and how did it make you feel”?