Aloha mindful friends!
Last Thursday I woke up from the anesthesia to be greeted by the gastro surgeon who had just performed a colonoscopy and I heard the following words – “We discovered a large polyp that is cancer in your colon. A biopsy was done & we will schedule you for a consult with a colorectal surgeon.” I asked him if he had any other good news!
Thus begins a process of being with cancer, again, probable surgery to remove the tumor, and potential other treatments, and the full recovery of the body to come. I shared this info with Jimmy Toyama & Richard Hennessey & suggested I write a daily blog to be posted on the Mindful Hawaii website. They both concurred it could be helpful to others. I intend to write daily &, there may be days I am unable. Whenever I am able I will write.
My purpose in sharing this process with you is to share what being mindful looks like during the process. I have practiced a variety of spiritual practices since my twenties. I have focused primarily on the practice of mindfulness in recent years. It is my intent & desire to be mindful as I experience whatever happens. It is also my desire & intent to shine a light for you to glimpse & experience how mindfulness is most effective with living in the present.
Regardless of whatever is happening in one’s life, being present is all that matters. Being present is fully experiencing the moment. Sounds easy right? It is easy. A cancer diagnosis creates a new world of challenges that appear very different from everyday “normal” living. The truth is the challenges are no different than other other life challenges. To practice mindfulness requires observing, acknowledging, accepting, and releasing. As with anything, it takes practice for the mind to make a new habit of being aware. As the habit becomes more regular mindfulness becomes more regular.
As I told Jimmy & Richard, I’ve been “talking the talk” and now it’s time for me to “walk the walk”. I welcome the opportunity to serve me and serve you. I am thankful having survived 32 years after three occurrences of throat cancer & extensive radiation treatments with numerous major side effects (loss of use of left arm & hand, tubefed for 14 years with nothing by mouth, tracheotomy leaving me with a whisper voice, very low blood pressure). When I first got throat cancer 32 years ago I did not have the benefits of mindfulness. With this diagnoses, having practiced mindfulness for some time, I will use it to continue with moment by moment, hour by hour, and day by day mindful practices.
Follow me daily right here. Share with any friends who you think might find my sharing useful, especially those who had or now have cancer. If you have questions, comments or just want to say aloha, email to friends@mindfulhawaii.org. I will answer if I can, but I can’t promise I’ll respond to each one.
Life is a kick in the butt! Now let’s get this party started!
Mindfully yours,
Jesse