60: Imagine your favorite place in the world; How I survived my 9-year-old's brain surgery recovery
#copingskills #nevergiveup #thereishope
Where is your favorite place to go?
Your very favorite place in the whole world? Your favorite place in your town?
Your favorite place in your home/yard?
Which one of these places can you visit today? Why do you like this specific place?
How do you feel at this place?
If you CAN visit one of your favorite places, I hope you will do it. Even if just for a few minutes.
My very favorite place is a warm sandy beach. My favorite activity is sitting on my warm beach towel and watching the waves roll in.
Sitting in the warm sunlight I feel at peace. Watching the waves, I feel like everything is right in the world, and even when my life is in utter chaos, I realize the waves keep rolling in just the same… This helps me to remember that I have gotten through all the difficult things that have happened in my past, and I WILL get through my current struggles as well. The process may not feel very pleasant, but I will get through.
I cannot often go to the ocean but found that focusing on this feeling of peace really helps me. During stressful times I often turn on YouTube and find a video of the ocean waves rolling in at sunset. I put on warm soft clothes if possible and sit back for a few minutes just listening to the sound of the waves crashing in. My kids laugh at me, but sometimes I invite them to join me on my ocean retreat – and we have a picnic on our beach towels in front of our YouTube ocean. After Ben’s brain surgery a dear friend got him a huge sandbox with little treasures buried in the sand and we could actually dig in the sand in these imaginary ocean adventures. There is a wonderful relaxing feel to warm sand flowing through your fingers.
Try it out. Imagine your very favorite place in the world. Who are you with? What are you doing? What time of day is it? What do you see? What do you hear? What do you taste? What do you feel?
Put your POWERFUL imagination to use. Spend a few minutes imaging you in your very favorite place, feeling those wonderful feelings you feel in your very favorite place.
No matter where you are – no matter what difficulties you are experiencing in life – taking a few minutes to take a little mental break can be helpful. (Even if you are stuck in the ER closing your eyes for a few minutes and taking some deep breaths and imagining something wonderful can be a nice distraction)
This is just one of a hundred tools that helped me including: A: BEFORE DIAGNOSIS B: Diagnosis and PRE-SURGERY HOSPITAL STAY C: SURGERY D: RECOVERY in patient E: At home recovery
56 “best day ever”? Feelings of gratitude can be so uplifting.
57 It is so easy to take family for granted.
58 A nice hot bubble bath can be soothing.
59 IT IS OK TO NOT BE OK.
60 Imagine your very favorite place in the world.
61 Helping kids come to terms with a difficult diagnosis.
62 Checklist to get yourself back on track with self-care.
63 Go for a short walk
64 Yoga can be relaxing and soothing.
65 Making your first thought a positive one.
66 Congratulate yourself for doing difficult things.
67 Pop bubble wrap.
68 DANCE to peppy positive song.
69 Plan a fun activity for yourself
F. CHEMO G. FAILING CHEMO H. WATCH AND WAIT I. NEEDING NEW TREATMENT
J. END OF NEW TREATMENT / watch and wait
** Living life one day at a time.
Topics I have thought and talked a lot about over the last few years include:
#momguilt #PediatricBrainTumor #Neurofibramatosis
#Glioma #Astrocytoma #PilocyticAstrocytoma
#BrainTumor #OpticNerveGlioma #PediatricBrainSurgery
#NF1 #ParentingChronicIllness #Mekinist
#watchandwait #trametinib #copingskills
#Carboplatin #Vincrystine #ChildhoodCancer
#nevergiveup #thereishope #PediatricBrainCancer