by Texas Homesteader~
Last year something happened to me that affected me profoundly – I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now hear me out, I’m going somewhere with this…
Several surgeries and thousands of prayers later I’m cancer free, praise GOD! But this frightening experience has changed me forever. I’m more keenly aware of the importance of faith, family & friends, I no longer take good health for granted.
And I’ve discovered that I really like the color PINK. I have hot pink shoelaces in my shoes, a bright pink cellphone case, a pink tablet case, pink hats and many pink shirts in my wardrobe.
RancherMan supports me in this great pinkness endeavor and he is often the gift-presenter for my pink accessories. But sometimes wonder, do I go too far?
People Talk About Important Things In Their Lives
Let’s look at it this way: We’ve all been there, someone has a new baby and that’s aaaaaaall they want to talk about.
“Here’s a picture of the baby. Look at this video of the baby. Want to hear the latest cute thing about THE BABY????”
Oh my gosh sometimes it’s enough to send ya runnin’, right??
Well I wonder about me having that same always-on-my-mind-thing mentality too. Except I’m talking about my life-changing experience surviving breast cancer. Am I going too far with all my pinkness?
Yes, this experience has affected me as profoundly. But are people around me secretly agonizing over all my pink?
A Profound Impact On My Life
I can say that in my journey from breast cancer diagnosis to survivor (one year and counting!) I’ve discovered many warrior sisters that have been through that same struggle as I have.
It’s kind of like the bond of another young parent with a brand new mom. They share that life-changing experience and lavishly lap up the stories of each others child – sharing experiences, advice and support with each other.
I feel that way about these brave sisters and I must say it’s a comfort to me to know so many other women have battled this demon and won.
There’s a sort of kinship I feel with these brave women. I gather quite a bit of strength from their survival stories and they support me emotionally too, knowing all too well what it feels like to be in my shoes. Because they’ve been in the trenches too.
Just Part Of My Healing
So folks in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, if you happen to catch glimpse of me mowing the pasture wearing my favorite pink shirt, sporting my shoes with the bright pink laces and driving a tractor that has bright pink wheels (yes really), please know that it’s not an attempt to get in your face about my battle.
It’s just part of my own very personal emotional healing process.
So here’s a shout-out to my warrior sisters – Deb, Barbara, Stacy, Dorothy, Jennifer, Faye and Nancy – I share in your fight. And of course a prayer goes up for those gone too soon like sweet Natalie & cousin Debbie.
And here’s to all the brave sisters out there that I’ve never met, staunchly fighting that breast cancer demon. I understand your struggle, and I support YOU!
~TxH~
More about my healing journey:
- In Sickness & In Health
- The Love Of God Through The Love Of Others
- Witness In The Strangest Places
- A Restless Night & Comfort Received
- The Garden That LOVE Planted
- Pretty In Pink: Going Too Far?
- Relay For Life = HOPE
See All My Stories About Cancer Survival
Other Inspirational Posts
- Many Flowers Make For A More Beautiful Bouquet
- Why Can’t We All Get Along With Our Fellow Humans??
- Generosity Shouldn’t Be Judgemental: Just Show Love
- My Journey May Not Be YOUR Journey: And That’s OK!
- The Power Of Love: Helping Neighbors In Need
- Gossip: Words Really CAN Hurt!
…and MANY MORE!
See All Our Inspirational Posts
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Tammy,
I say if you got pink, flaunt it. Our perspectives change when we are the ones affected by cancer or anything really. This shows your support of survivors and those in the midst of the battle. You go girl.
What a sweet comment Marie, thank you. I’ve been made aware of so many other survivor sisters during my journey, some of them friends whom I never knew dealt with the struggle. There is hope! ~TxH~
I am a survivor of only 5 months, although I am dealing with an infection that just cropped up last weekend. I love your pink tractor wheels! Your blog is one of my favorites that I love to read regularly on the Chicken Chick Blog Hop.
Warrior Sister!! It’s not a club that anyone actually wants to be in, but I think you’ll find there’s lots of strength out there from warrior sisters that have already been there. Prayers for your continued healing & strength. Thank you for your sweet comment.
Congrats Tammy! You go girl! Love the tractor’s pink wheels!
🙂 Thanks Taryn.
I say go ahead and wear all the pink you want. YOU DESERVE IT! I am not a cancer survivor but was my father’s caregiver when he had cancer, and anyone who survives that deserves all our respect… including letting them wear all the color they want. Especially if it helps on the healing process.
I siupport you with all the pink you can have, Cancer is such an evil disease and I hold it is eliminated in my life time. GO PINK POWER !!!!!!
I too am a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed 12/24/13 (merry Christmas) and went through 4 surgeries in 2014. I count myself as a breast cancer survivor and am also a survivor of a different cancer 40 years ago. In addition, I’m a nurse working with cancer patients for 15+ years.
I don’t do pink all the time, but I understand the impulse.
I’ve seen people who embrace pink (or whatever the color for their particular cancer is). I’ve also seen people who completely avoid acknowledging or discussing their cancer. I’ve seen people celebrate their cancer-free anniversary. I’ve seen people energized to raise funds to support cancer research. I’ve seen people angry and depressed and numb and just about everything else.
My message?
Each of us who experiences cancer is deeply affected by it, and the cancer diagnosis affects each of us in completely different ways. No way is “wrong”.
Even in the midst of supportive friends and family, there are some aspects of the cancer journey that are traveled alone, and our individual response to the diagnosis is one of them.
I am fortunate in that I have found blessings in the midst of my diagnosis. I’ve found myself appreciating life more. I discovered allies that I never realized would be there for me when times were tough. I realized that I was stronger than I knew. I found out that the thing I feared most can be conquered through the grace of God, the skill of the medical staff, and the support of families and friends.
I pray that you, too, will find blessings.
Be in touch if you wish – image.in.ing@gmail.com
Sue
OMGosh YES!! The ‘blessings’ you received on the flip side of your diagnosis are the same ones I discovered myself! I still sport quite a bit of pink in my daily wardrobe and life, but I’ve found as time goes by I’m not quite as adamant about it as I once was. But I totally understand others who shun pink or any reminder of their struggle with this terrible disease – I have some of those feelings too (and trust me, they conflict with each other when I’m all ‘pinked’ out!) Praise GOD for your journey through the darker days and for the sunshine on your face today. (hugs) ~TxH~
I have never heard surviving breast cancer being compared to having a baby, but I can see how it would be life altering much like having a baby is! I don’t think there’s anything at all wrong with embracing pink. 🙂
LOL Jamie – I guess those are the only two experiences I’ve had in my own lifetime where I felt I was massively overdoing things. As a young mom I was so happy about my babies that I deluged people with news, pictures, etc. until I was afraid they would moan, roll their eyes and run away when they saw me approaching.
I understand the old boy/girl color stuff, but never bought into it so the rebranding of pink to breast cancer research has not been difficult for me to embrace. How can I be offended by pink when it stands for LIFE?! Love your blog posts. Keep up all your good work.
I feel the same. And I think for me it’s such a personal journey that the color pink’s comforting to me. As you said, it stands for LIFE. It represents a frightening struggle that was overcome with much upholding & support from God & those around me. Thank you for your kind words. ~TxH~
I so glad the cancer is gone and you are healthy again. Thanks for the reminder that life really is about faith, family and friends. We hope to see you again this week at Simple Lives Thursday.
Tammy, I love your bright pink shoe laces! I thought to ask you about them at some point Saturday after the scavenger hunt but it slipped my mind. We had such a great time visiting with you and Stacy this weekend and hope to see you out this way soon.
No, you didn’t go too far! Pinned. We couldn’t think of anyone better to party with! Thank you for stopping by. I hope to see you on Monday at 7 pm. /
Happy Saturday! Lou Lou Girls
I’m sorry for the journey you have had to make, but I am thankful that your journey is at a better place. Enjoy your pink and if I see you on your pink-wheeled tractor, I will thank God for you and for how God is healing you. It seems that pink can be a testimony of what God has done or is doing. Thank you for sharing this.
Timely post as I’ve just come back from first dose of chemo today. Great to see your (and everyone else’s) support. Notwithstanding the ‘branding’ of breast cancer research pink, I’m not a fan of the colour. I love Bailey’s collar and your boots but I’m over an entire generation of little girls who never wear anything but B**bie pink and whole aisles in clothes and toyshops devoted to it. You just can’t buy a girl anything these days without buying into the Disney-fication of the world or knock-your-eyes-out pink. Sorry I’m a bit grumpy today but I though someone had to say it. Keep up your great work.
Cassie – (HUGS) to you! Not everyone likes the color pink. Just as you mentioned, there was a time where “girls wear pink, boys wear blue”. I’ve never been particularly drawn to the color in the past, but over the last year it’s become a very prominent color in my life – not from a “girls wear pink, boys wear blue” kind of way, but in an emotional healing way. Of course we don’t all heal emotionally the same ways either. But know that I’ve got your back girl. YOU KICK THIS!! ~TxH~
Thank you for your story today. It’s always wonderful to hear about another survivor. As of November 1st, it will be 2 years for me. I know what you’re talking about. We all have to find something that gives us comfort, control and peace of mind in an unsettling time. So, my opinion is, talk all you want about that color pink.
No, it’s not just you, Tammy. More and more men are joining in the recognition that we must find a cure for breast cancer. I have seen my big, manly husband wear pink shirts to bring awareness to this horrible foe. And it warmed my heart to see the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans wearing hot pink last evening in support of breast cancer awareness.
PK
I think you should have all the pink you want!! I am so happy you are a survivor and are such a blessing to others. (((Hugs)))
I’m a colon cancer survivor. Its been a year and a half since my surgery and ten months since chemo ended. I go for blood work every three months. I hold my breath until it comes back clear. You go ahead and use all the pink you need!
Congrats to you Linda! I know it must be stressful waiting for bloodwork results – here’s sending positive thoughts to you that it gets easier & easier for you as you stack up those good results. (hugs) ~TxH~
I just would like all to know that I too support any and all cancer survivors.
What a wonderful thing for you to say Jack. THANK YOU!! ~TxH~