Barry Lopez says that stories "seem to contain everything we need understand to repair the gaping rift between body and soul." This is true, for stories are the place where we live; that place between memory, emotion, intellect, and life where we see ourselves and our world. Every memory has a story. We can see in our minds the where, when, how, who, and what of past experiences. If we look closely, we see that every emotion has its own story. Our hearts know the tale of how each feeling comes about. Every thought that we think has a story behind it born of experience and knowledge and personality. Each of us has a story; a life that does not yet have an ending. This is where story begins and lives . . . in that gap between body and soul.
Remission is now part of my story.
Here's something I don't think I've talked about before that I want to share now. Hormone dependent cancer wreaks havoc on your metabolism. I have had a host of complications because of the hormonal issues that have come with my recovery. Because of my lack of hormones, I put on weight very easily. I've gained thirty pounds in the past 4 years. I'll be sharing a new page from my story over the next couple of months as I research and work toward finding ways to lose the weight and be healthy and fit while I fight the slowing metabolism that is compounded now by my age. Hopefully, this part of my story will give a whole new set of resources to those fighting weight gain due to hormonal issues, aging, or just life.
I also wanted to invite any of my readers who have battled cancer or another debilitating disease to share their story in the comments. Trust me, writing about the struggles that we all go through at some point in our lives is not only cathartic, it gives others hope.
So, my assignment for you this time is -- share your story. Just talk to someone about your obstacles, write a letter to a family member, or share it here in the comments. We all have stories. Yours deserves to be told.