Aloha fellow eternal beings (uh oh, he’s gone mad!),
This ongoing story which I am posting daily is now the first page that comes up whenever you go to mindfulhawaii.org. And below the present post is all other previous posts if you missed any or are reading this for the first time.
I have good news and more good news. Yesterday I did a bone scan to see if the colon cancer has spread to the bones (evidently can be common). Bone Scan NORMAL! Yabba dabba doo was my email response to the doc’s. And today I had a CT scan of the pelvis & abdomen so the surgeon has a good visual of the location of the tumor. Doc emailed me to tell me no spreading of cancer to the liver, which is another common place. Tomorrow I see the colorectal surgeon to discuss surgery options & his golf handicap.
Every morning I do an app called Calm. It has a Daily Calm guided meditation with a different mindful focus each day. In my opinion it’s the best mindful app hands down or hands in prayer position or whatever. No matter the focus, the emphasis is always on the breath. Breathe in, breathe out. Deep breath, shallow breath, whatever natural way the body has of breathing. The important thing is to be aware of the breath as it goes in and goes out. When there is awareness there is being in the present moment, which is the only moment that counts.
I have found this very useful especially when I’m ruminating about the present medical diagnosis. You know, the kick in the butt diagnosis! When I focus on breathing I am at peace in that moment. No fear of the future, no concerns, no what ifs, no strategy, no figuring it all out. Just me and the breath. Heavenly indeed! As I focus on awareness of the breath I am free to just be. In the just being I release all negative thoughts and I let go of any story I’m telling myself which allows me to be joyful in that moment. The more awareness of the breath, there is more joy.
Sounds too easy, right? I’m here to testify (I swear to tell the whole truth & nothing but the truth, so help me whatever the source of life is) that it is easy! All it takes is practice, practice, practice. Eventually the practice becomes the way of being on the way to nirvana or heaven or joyful living or just being here now.
My dearest friend and wife continues to shine with her assists, reminders, and deep love. How lucky I am to be with her during these past 34 years. Sweet Nalani.
Mindfully yours,
Jesse