October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  I know you see the pink ribbons everywhere you turn and most often, you don’t give it a second thought.  Although I did small things to help raise awareness in my own way, it wasn’t personal.  Now, it is.  It also woke me up to the importance of doing a self-breast exam every month.  More often than not, it’s the individual who detects the lump, not the once a year mammogram.  So, if you get nothing else out of sharing my personal story with you, know this.  You can save your own life.

I’m not going to give you the stats and usual information you receive during the month of October.  Instead, I’m going to share a personal story with you.

This December will mark the second year of my mother’s breast cancer diagnosis.    In December of 2007, mom got the call from her doctor that the lump she found was cancerous.  It was a blow out of nowhere that neither one of us saw coming.  From the onset, mom held onto her faith and kept an upbeat and positive attitude.  She has gone through 2 years of diagnosis, surgeries, treatments and procedures.  Mom is now cancer free, but she still falls into that 5 year window until she’s given a complete clean bill of good health.

Of course, it has been a journey for her, but it has also been a journey for me as well.  Mom has been an example for me without knowing it.  She has shown me how to face what may seem like and insurmountable obstacle with grace and faith.  As long as she was ok, so was I.  I was at her side through all the doctor appointments, treatments and surgeries.  I wasn’t the one who was going through the physical part of this journey, but I was there mentally, emotionally & spiritually.  If you have ever taken care of someone close to you, I’m sure you can relate to this.  You’re not going through the pain and side affects, but in a lot of ways you are going through  the journey with them.  And, believe me, it can wear you down if you’re not careful.

It’s important to surround yourself with a loving support team.  For the person you are caring for and for you.  I had the best support team you could ask for and I would like to take this time to say thanks you.

To my Aunt Gloria Goodwin and my cousin Kam-Marie Goodwin.  They were at every treatment no matter the weather or fatigue.  They showed up with bright smiles, laughter and the yummiest lunches and snacks around (thank you Auntie!!).  It meant a lot having mom’s sister there to pray with her on those occasions when the nurses weren’t able to find her veins.  Their love and support throughout this journey can never be repaid.  Thank you for your love and time.

With all the yummy snacks being dished up, we were a big hit with the nurse by the time mom had her last treatment.

To the nursing staff at the Joan Karnell Cancer Center of Pennsylvania Hospital, you ladies are angels and so awesome!  Thanks for keeping us laughing, calm, in hot packs and full of hot chocolate (seemed to work on mom’s veins).

This past May we also took part in the Susan Komen Race for the Cure (mom is in the red jacket).  It was so much fun!  It was also so humbling to see the sea of pink that stood on the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  So many women, and men, stood with confidence as survivors before being led in the survivor’s parade.  It was an awesome sight to see!  It was also awesome for those who gave unselfishly to support us in our walk, either through participation or donations.

I would like to say a big THANK YOU.

For being apart of Team Millie Mil:

• Gloria Goodwin
• Kam-Marie Goodwin
• Brenda Williams
• Vanita Williams
• Kenishia Cook
• Brian Chambers
• Mia Chambers
• Geoffrey Deans

For making a financial donation to our team:

• Leslie Benoliel
• Leslie Bowman
• Edelene Carroll
• Digshema James
• Joyce
• Gina Kaiser
• Shielah Lewis
• Jeanette McVeigh
• Harriet & Leonard Middleton
• The Trott Family
• Greg Virola
• Hilda Wilson
• C. Austin & W. Winchester
• The Yeagor Family

Mom is enjoying life as she always has, but she now has a new walk.  It seems she is using her journey to bring support and comfort to other women who are now faced with the same obstacle.  Her message is clear and always the same.  Hold tight to your faith, surround yourself with people who love you and always make sure your attitude matches your smile.

© Clesha Staten for Simply Clesha: In Your Secret Place, 2005-2009. | Permalink | Be the first to comment on this post | Add to del.icio.us
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Guest post by Christine Kane

What does it mean to Live Simple?

Does it mean you toss out your belongings and head to the woods to live deliberately?

No. (Though you could do worse!)

Does it mean that money is bad, and you can get self-righteous about wealth?

Nope. (This is often just a convenient way to ignore your own money issues.)

To Live Simple is to be empowered and present. It means you honor the massive power of your attention by making clear choices and creating a life you love – free from clutter of all kinds.

Here’s how to start living simple right now…

Eat Simple
Instead of complicated recipes, get local organic produce at tailgate markets. A tray of sliced raw vegetables dipped in hummus or vinaigrette is a great dinner. Or lightly steamed greens with rice. These are easy to prepare and easy to digest. The fewer foods you combine in a single meal, the easier it is for your body to use the energy.

Shop Simple
My favorite thing to carry with me when I shop is this mantra: “If it’s not an Absolute Yes, it’s a No.”

Heal Simple
The Western approach to health is often about adding stuff to fix symptoms of imbalance. This typically involves more pills – which cause more side effects.
Here’s a better way: Allow the body to heal itself. This means removing the excess – excess toxins, fats, sugar, meds. Healing – while sometimes challenging – can be a simple, loving process when we let our body express its inner wisdom.

Carry Simple
Do you hoist around a giant purse crammed full of stuff?
Bring only the basics. Say, lipstick and a credit card. It’s a great feeling to ditch the purse!

Or, try this: Take all of your membership numbers (AAA, Priority Club, etc), type them onto a small piece of paper, and laminate it. You’ll cut your wallet size in half!

Store Simple
Just because you have storage space doesn’t mean you have to fill it. See your storage areas as a metaphor for your life and your body. Clear out the old stuff that you don’t use. Stop clutching to the, “Oh! But I might need that one day!” excuse. Trust the Universe to provide what you need when you need it.

Feel Simple
Honor your emotions, and learn how to talk about them simply. Emotions aren’t as complicated as we make them. It’s the stories we attach to them that make them feel so complicated.

Nurture Simple
In my Uplevel Your Life Mastery Program, participants often discover that they don’t really love sugar, junk food, or hours of television. They only use these things as substitutes for what they really want. (Which is often a nap!)
Junk food and television are often fake comforts. Authentic nurturing is usually laughter, sleep, or a great meal.

Grab Simple
Do you grab that free tube of “acne cleansing lavender toner” the mall employee is handing out even though you haven’t had a pimple in years? In other words, if it’s “free,” do you automatically grab?

Start looking at your space and your energy as more valuable than the dollar. Our culture has it all wrong when it sees money at the top of the value chain. Free stuff isn’t free. Take your power back, and place a high value on your time and space!

Drink Simple
Get a Sigg Bottle and make filtered water your drink of choice.

Join Simple
Remove yourself from membership programs, catalog subscription lists, churches, clubs and/or associations about which you don’t feel passionate.

Intend Simple
When we have too many goals and intentions occupying our minds and spirits then we never get to feel the power of completion. We’re always “catching up.” Honor your deepest intentions right now, and let the hundreds of other possibilities go.

Speak Simple
Listen more. Talk less. Give up the complaining habit. Cease all gossip. Take a moment to breathe before you answer a question. Recognize that listening doesn’t mean waiting for your turn to talk.

Love Simple
Here’s how I love someone best:

I am really with them when we’re together. I watch their facial expressions and truly listen to them without trying to fix or critique their choices. I delight in them.
For me, this is love at its most simple. It has nothing to do with greeting cards, gifts, or “proving my love.” Loving simple is the easiest of all of these things. That’s why I saved it for last.

© Clesha Staten for Simply Clesha: In Your Secret Place, 2005-2009. | Permalink | Be the first to comment on this post | Add to del.icio.us
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There’s nothing so soothing after a long day than falling into a bed with crisp fresh linen, lightly scented with lavender.  This easy aromatic recipe is a great way to relax the mind while you relax the body.

What you’ll need:

• 4 oz. spray bottle
• 3 oz. distilled water
• 10 drops Lavender essential oil

Putting it together:

1. Pour distilled water into the spray bottle.
2. Add Lavender essential oil to water.
3. Put on the bottle top.  Shake.  Lightly spray linen and pillows.
4. Allow to air dry before adding covering.

Photo by Warren Noronha

© Clesha Staten for Simply Clesha: In Your Secret Place, 2005-2009. | Permalink | Be the first to comment on this post | Add to del.icio.us
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The summer sun is the perfect time for the family to head outdoors for fun and adventures.  You remembered to pack the sun block, but there may be that one occasion where a sunburn is the result of all day fun.  Help cool your burning skin with this simple cooling gel.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Aloe Vera gel
• 7 drops Lavender essential oil
• 2 drops Roman Chamomile

Putting it together:

1. Put Aloe Vera gel into small bowl.
2. Add Lavender and Roman Chamomile essential oils to the gel and fold in to mix.
3. Apply the cooling gel to sunburned skin.

Photo by mtkopone

© Clesha Staten for Simply Clesha: In Your Secret Place, 2005-2009. | Permalink | Be the first to comment on this post | Add to del.icio.us
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When you think of summer, it brings memories of lazy days, hot nights and vibrant colors everywhere.  Take those wonderful smells and memories with you wherever you go.  These essential oils are fresh, energizing and vibrant.  Best part?  They’re healing.

• Chamomile – floral; inflamed skin, insect bites, relaxing
• Grapefruit – crisp; fresh, energizing
• Lavender – floral; insect bites, insect repellant, skin irritations, sunburn
• Lemon Eucalyptus – eye opening; allergies, coughs
• Lemongrass – sweet lemons; insect repellent, stress reliever
• Lime – citrus; colds
• Mandarin Orange – sweet citrus; helps with insomnia, children allergies
• Sweet Orange – citrus; colds, dull skin

Using these oils

Using citrus essential oils in the summer is safe in most applications.  However, you do want to take care not to apply citrus essential oils to your skin and then run out into the sun.  Most citrus essential oils are phototoxic and become hazardous.  As always, you never want to apply any essential oil directly to the skin.  It should first be diluted in a seed oil, bath or spritz.

WAYS TO USE THESE OILS

Diffusers – use a few drops alone or in combination with your diffuser or aromalamp.  It will create a wonderful and fragrant atmosphere.

Baths – add 10 drops of essential oil to your bath water for a relaxing or rejuvenating way to unwind.

Tissue – add 2 drops of essential oil to a tissue to inhale throughout the day.

Body oil – add 10 drops of essential oil to 4 oz. of jojoba or grape seed oil for a light body oil.  This is also a great way to make an insect repellent body oil.

Photo by D Sharon Pruitt

© Clesha Staten for Simply Clesha: In Your Secret Place, 2005-2009. | Permalink | Be the first to comment on this post | Add to del.icio.us
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