My Thoughts for This Day...

Mundane vs the Spiritual

In every challenging situation you will face in life, there is the mundane view and the spiritual view. The mundane view is easy to see because it’s based on human emotion and human thinking.  For example, you lose your job, you get divorced, you lose all your hard earned money or you get seriously sick.

All of these situations are awful and painful on a mundane level.  But, if you look at these same situations through the spiritual eyes of your soul, you will see a different picture.  That job you lost was a blessing in disguise because now you can pursue a more satisfying job, or even better, go pursue your passions.  Your divorce forced you to get more independent, self-reliant and maybe, released you to find a much more fulfilling relationship. Your financial losses taught  you that money cannot buy happiness and that you can survive and thrive with less ‘stuff’. Your serious health issue showed you that through loving yourself, your body, clearing negative thoughts and habits you could regain your good health, or, your serious health issue has shown you what is really most important to you ~ love, family, friends & joy and that NOW, this moment,  is all you really have anyway. 

Sometimes the worst experiences lead you to positive realisations and life changes

In recent times, I have had to face the worst experiences in my life. I have been through all the situations I just spoke about before... loss of job, divorce, loss of money and even sickness, but the worst experience in my life so far, has to be my son's Brain Cancer battle.  If you read one of my Blog entries called "So you  think you have Problems" you will get up to date on this situation.

I mention it here, not for sympathy, but because it has taught me so much about myself and life. In the worst situation I have found many gifts. For example, I don't think too far ahead in my life anymore, I choose to live as much as possible in the NOW. James has taught me that by being the amazingly positive person he is and how he embraces every day with such energy and enthusiasm. I no longer stress nearly as much about material things because compared to the prospect of loosing my Son to this cancer, they mean absolutely nothing. I am much more aware of kindness because during the worst months of surgery, recovery and the worst prognosis (James is defying the prognosis so far) the people around me and my son arrived with open arms, open hearts, plates of food, a shoulder to cry on, willingness to listen to my tears and rants and rage (at life). And lastly, I have always thought of myself as a strong person but now I KNOW that I am (and so is my amazing son).

Think about your own life... What blessings have come from your own 'worst times'? What have you learned about yourself? and other people?

Life is both the worst times and the best times. You cannot have one without the other. Happiness is fleeting and mostly connected to outer circumstances. Joy on the other hand, can be found anywhere, any time, if you look for it in the simple things such as a bright sunny day, a strangers smile or the beauty of nature.

Lisa xox

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So you think you have problems?

Today's blog, is not about Art.  Today's blog is about my beautiful son James.

James is 21 years old and he was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma Brain Cancer (stage 4) on 1st August 2011. That is a date I will never ever forget ~ just him and me together with the Surgeon, who had to deliver the news that would change his life forever.

How does a Mother cope with news like this? Well looking back, not very well... I lost it. And James? he went cold and clammy and into shock. There were many tears from many people in the days, weeks and months that followed.

James had everything to live for... just completed his four year apprenticeship as a Diesel Fitter for an International Crane Company.  Just purchased a 'new' car and just turned 21 years old. He was fit, happy and he thought, we thought, healthy.

During his early diagnosis, James endured two brain surgeries in two weeks, followed by radical radiation treatment and chemotherapy for 7 weeks. During the first three or so months, because James and I live in different cities, he in Brisbane and me in Sydney, I left my family to go live with  and care for him in Brisbane, taking him to daily hospital visits etc. Once he got past that intensive treatment stage I came home and he then had 6 months of regular chemotherapy.

The Doctors at the P.A. Hospital gave us a grim prognosis for James. The fact is, most people with a Glioblastoma, stage 4, do not survive very long. They also said that he would never work again and never drive a car again and, although he has no deficits as a result of the surgeries, they sent him to Palliative Care meetings.

James had his life taken away from him. Many people in his position would just give up.  Not James.
He always remained positive and kept his zany sense of humour. He was strong when those of us who love him struggled to do so.

Today... It's been 8 months since this 'journey' began. Jame is defying the Drs prognosis so far.  His MRI's are stable, the brain cancer is not growing and when he took his medical records to a Private Neurosurgeon, he got the opportunity to sit extensive tests to ascertain his fitness to work and drive again. 

Guess what? James passed every test they threw at him with flying colours! So now my son is soon returning to work and to driving. Things that the public hospital Drs said would never happen.

Of course, we do not know what the future holds for James. He may stay perfectly well for many years, or, he may not.

What I do know is that my son will continue to live passionately.  As he said to me today, "Mum, if anyone can beat this thing I can."  I believe him and I believe in him.

God bless James.

Lisa xox