Hey all...

This site is for you - to ask questions, make comments (clean of course), to encourage one another and learn from each other or just to find a space to vent, laugh, connect, etc. Please make it your own - Eric and I are just here to support the process (well, and monitor).

REMINDER - Young Adult Group is meeting tomorrow, Thursday August 24. Looking forward to seeing you all - heard that Sweetwater was a great time.

Sage & Eric

August 7, 2006

So, I have returned from vacation in California and I am already having sea-air withdrawal! Upon returning from my trips I was reminded how quickly life moves and thought I would share some of my thoughts.

I was so relaxed, refreshed and feeling so connected and, almost as fast as I relaxed on the beach, I was wound up again sitting in the No. VA traffic. It was as though my mind and body had forgotten just how relaxed it was (AND how capable it is of relaxing) and was instantaneously in knots and annoyed. The day after I returned from CA, I drove up to PA to speak at a conference for people living with Parkinson Disease and once again, I was grounded - literally pulled by something from below and grounded as I was reminded how drastically life has changed for these individuals. No matter how desperately they may want to "go quick" they are forced to slow and the world around them remains fast - almost dizzying.
This reminded me of a couple of the young adults I have come in contact with and how they would say "Sage, I could be surrounded by so many people and still feel utterly alone because they just don't get it" - and maybe they can't slow down enough to "get it"?

That is what Eric and I wanted to create this space for - a safe place to talk with, share, laugh, scream, to be bold or to be a quiet observer and to connect with people who "get it" . You all make up this community, this "club that nobody asked to join" and we want to find outlets to help support you - so let us know what we can do. If there are topics, ideas, suggestions, papers, etc. that you want us to share or get more information on. This is your site.

Here are a couple questions that came out of my thoughts above - you can respond, chuck 'em or create your own questions, thoughts, etc...
In the midst of this chaotic, busy world we live in how do we take care of ourselves? When life is full of Dr's appt's or follow-up appt's on top of work, relationships, and family - how do we make sure that we are keeping our spirit well nourished? And how do we deal with the fact that life goes on around us even when ours seems to stop? Is it selfish of us to ask them to stop with us? What would happen if we required a day of rest and reflection of everyone?


Peace,
Sage

Wow. This is a very cool thing. This could be a great thing for our group... As one of your 'fearless leaders', I am posting this first note to welcome you all. Of course, our other "fl" is off on vacation so she can't weigh in on any of this just yet. But, I am sure she will have lots to say once she sees this! I am thinking that either Sage or myself, will wind up posting notes here on a regular basis, with different things that might be interesting to all of you. Articles of interest, words of wisdom, or maybe just alot of yada, yada...

I really thought we had a suberb group last week. Lots of laughter, some tears, a few good ideas, and overall, just a safe place to vent. You guys never cease to amaze me and I am proud and feel honored to be one of your facilitators.

Today I pose a question for all the Young Adult Cancer Survivors that may come across this blog. When is the 'right' time to tell your date that you have/had cancer?

with love and much admiration,
fearless leader #1 Eric