Thursday, November 6, 2014

MY FEET IN THE SAND: Finishing The Fight

As I look back over my life... and I think things over... I can truly say that I've Been BLESSED.... is a line from one of my favorite gospel songs.  Today, November, 2014 I stand in the eye of that Blessing, looking forward to a breathtaking new dawn.

Friday October 31 was the final day of Breast Cancer Awareness 2014.  I admit this journey has been amazing and arduous simultaneously. 

When I say I wouldn't take nothing for my journey... Maya Angelou, that statement resounds as one of grace.  On September 3, 2013 I found a lump.  On October 30, 2014 I stand before you having won and learned... invaluable lessons about life and me.

Me after exercise and Voting
When I first learned of my diagnosis I inhaled every cliché I could find-- CANCER PICKED THE WRONG DIVA, FIGHT [CANCER] LIKE A GIRL, GIVE CANCER A SWIFT KICK IN THE ASS.  They helped and I  would come to rely on them for comfort in some of the darkest times I could imagine.  However, in a time when it was drilled in my head to be selfish and self-absorbed about me and my healing; my greatest lesson was that none of this is about me.  It's all about HIM... GOD the ALMIGHTY, the GOD in me. 

Today I have a profound yearning to vibrate at a higher level beyond the pettiness with compassion, grace, forgiveness and most importantly love.  I don't exist for me.  I exist to serve in humanity and connectivity.  I am a spiritual being having a human experience and when I lose sight of that magnanimous vision, life bumps me back in line to learn it. 

That's how working through Cancer has aided me.  Working through Cancer has prodded me to listen.  Working through Cancer has jolted me to infuse compassion and self-less absorption into my being.  Having worked through Cancer has taught and continues to show me True North Evolution, that I can consistently exist there some day.

Throughout this past year, I've encountered momentous experiences, those encounters where I've had to pinch myself to remain present. 


Me and Actor/Friend Suki Avery
Backstage at the Queen Latifah Show


Recently I was Blessed to enjoy pampering courtesy of Lipstick Angels, donated wigs for Breast Cancer Survivors and Soldiers by Sherri Shepherd and to share a piece of my experience with a two of my pink sisters on the Queen Latifah Show.





Me and Photographer/Make-up Artist/Pink Sister
Friend Jermica Ragland
Backstage at the Queen Latifah Show
Wigs courtesy of Sherri Shepherd
Make-up courtesy of Lipstick Angels





I'm in this fight to the finish.  I'm not only speaking of the battle of Cancer but the fight to life.  Thank each and every one of you for sharing this journey with me.





3 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing the journey. Pretty amazing, isn't it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Toni. What an awesome testimony. Your are a beautiful woman inside and outside. Keep sharing your story.

    ReplyDelete