Inspiration

As cancer survivors many of us look for sources of inspiration to help us recover from the side effects of our treatment.

Inspiration comes in many guises.

Celebrity cancer survivors such as Kylie Minogue can inspire you to get yourself both mentally and physically fit.

Others may prefer the cancer survivor stories of more ordinary people. How they got through the bad times, what they did and how they approached things.

I find reading poems are very soothing when I'm in times of crisis.

Some poems have been written specifically about cancer, others about surviving cancer, and others whilst are more general, but are inspiring just the same.

Others turn to quotations for help. Lance Armstrong the famous elite cyclist (of the Lance Armstrong Foundation) who has overcome cancer to go on to win the Tour de France said:

“Anything is possible. You can be told that you have a 90-percent chance or a 50-percent chance or a 1-percent chance, but you have to believe, and you have to fight.””

During my treatment I started a "Happy Book", which listed all the things and thoughts that made me happy. It is a beautiful handmade book given to me by a dear friend and it is very special, not just how it looks, and who it is from, but also because of what it contains.

I listed things like kingfishers and english roses that excite me, but I also had lists of things I wanted to go and do when I was well enough. I carried the book everywhere with me, adding to it whenever a new happy thought popped into my mind. It has pictures I've cut out of magazines and postcards that I love. It is a joy to flick through, and helps tremendously with the my down moments. And I'm slowly working through my 'one day I'll.....' list even now. And I add to it whenever another wonderful idea comes into my head. I still have to learn how to make sushi. One day I'll......

Keeping a diary or blogging - keeping a diary on line, has inspired some people to pick up pieces of their lives after having had cancer. You could start a blog about your experience, so that you could help and be helped. You could add your poems, stories, quotes or prayers to the various sections on this site.

If you find that you are unable to work at your old job, you could investigate setting up a business on line which you could do in your own time, whenever you have the energy, as others have done.

Words of inspiration from other cancer survivors may also be helpful too, and if you are living with cancer, these words may also be of help. I have found a number of quotes from a number of cancer survivors and others which you might like to take a look at.

Others look for inspiration through spiritual help in healing prayer and testimony. Some find they help tremendously, when we are struggling to get back on top of our lives after treatment.

Perhaps some of these cancer people in movies will act as a source of inspiration to you?

Some turn to more physical things for motivation. What about having a cancer survivor tattoo, for you to look at or think about when things get difficult? Or what about joining a local support group or even setting up your own local cancer survivors project?

Some have turned their energies to raising money for cancer charities or even setting up their own charity.

Sometimes just getting out into the countryside can be extraordinarily uplifting. I just love to see birds, such as house martins on telegraph wires or herons fishing in the river.

Are you a designer, one of the world's wonderfully creative? What about designing a garden or a park for fellow cancer survivors?

Alternatively you might want to set up your own event as a way to focus your mind on a task. How about organising a cancer survivors celebration and or cancer survivor ceremony?

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