Houston Smoking Ban Vote Today

In two days Houston City Park and Library property will become smoke free and the Mayor would like to extend the ban to other public areas. Some Council members are saying, “It’s not fair…smoke outside, just goes in the air.”  They’re right it’s not fair for CDC data shows secondhand smoke exposure in Texas is higher than in the nation overall and there is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke.  Children whose lungs are still developing and elderly who are fighting chronic diseases are especially vulnerable.  It’s not fair that the 19.2% of smoking Texans can create a toxic and hazardous environment in those public spaces we love to hangout and share with tourists.  Support extending the ban today!

Morth Mariam Vanitha Samajam

This week I will speak at the annual Diocesan meeting of the Southwest America Indian Orthodox Church ladies Morth Mariam Vanitha Samajam organization.  Their moto is Pray, Act, and Shine.  My message to them will focus on the sacred moments that shine throughout our lives as we strive for whole person living.  For it is only through whole person living that we have the energy to connect with life’s meaning and purpose, and become embedded in something greater than ourselves.  Strive for whole person living today and “shine”!

2nd Hand Smoke Kills

Wednesday, I was on my way to speak in Omaha at the Nebraska Safety and Wellness conference, when a man sitting next to me in the airport asked me if I worked at MD Anderson.  He told me his mother was being treated for lung cancer.  I asked him how long she had smoked, he paused and with tears in his eyes said, “She never smoked, but I’ve been smoking since I was 11”.  I asked him if he had ever tried to quit, he told me he was 7 hrs. 11 min. without a cigarette, and I had shown up like an angel reminding him of how much he loved his mom and much he would give to be smoke free.  2^nd hand smoke kills!    

Life Ripples

Several years ago I’d been asked to follow a palliative team around that was undergoing high stress.  My 10 years of hospice work had prepared me for the experience, but not for ripple of emotions I’d feel.  We were near the end of our daily rounds when we entered a room that didn’t feel like a hospital room.  Maybe it was the warmth of the handmade quilt on the bed or the family pictures spread around the room or maybe it was the ripples of my mom’s room so many years ago.  It really didn’t matter, what mattered was the joy of life ripples were there, and I was being reminded once again the power of never ending love.  Find joy in your life ripples today. 

Sitting is Killing Us!

Sitting is killing us, and there is an accumulation of evidence that indicates prolonged sedentary time increases the risk of illness and death from chronic disease, independent of the protective effects of exercise.  Studies at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center suggest, “You can’t exercise enough to counteract the effect of hours of sitting.”  If you sit all day your body adapts to sitting and major muscle groups stop functioning properly and lose flexibility that leads to chronic back, neck and shoulder pain.  What can you do?  Stand more!  Consider incorporating standing opportunities into your day (phone calls, stretch breaks every 30 min., walk-n-talk meeting). 

Dr. Ron DePinho - Presidential Address

Yesterday, as I crossed the bayou after the presidential address, I spotted a whooping crane and was immediately caught in awe by his long shadow.   Dr. D reminded us we are 20,000 cancer fighting champions and 1,080 volunteers.  MD Anderson is the most impactful cancer institution in the world and knowledge and caring are our weapons of choice.   You could feel the pride when he told us “the patients and families we serve are our North Star in our fight to make cancer history”.  The whooper moved toward dinner and his shadow grew longer, just like MD Anderson’s reach across the world as our research innovations develop better treatments, protocols and interventions to eliminate cancer.  Watch our shadow grow!

Tying Flies and Learning Patience and Perseverance

Growing up the across the street neighbor family was a stay at home mom, three girls, and Mr. Bankston who was an engineer for the water company. My dad was a great dad, but pretty much absent my kid years for he traveled throughout the southern states as a salesman. Late elementary school I realized Mr. Bankston had some pretty neat hobbies he was willing to share. He fly fished and tied his own flies, and made me a clothespin vise, gave me hooks, feathers, thread, and examples of the flies he used. He never took me fishing, but paid me .25¢ a fly, and planted the seeds for the patience and perseverance I find so necessary in my life today. Plant some seeds today.

Mississippi River Levee Life Excursion

The first car I ever bought was an old Army jeep, and my 1^st driving excursion was down Lee to Brightside and the River Road.  I drove the dirt rode with a tail of dust, just like rat patrol on TV.  At the juncture of Brightside and River Road the Mississippi River levee rose up like a giant sleeping snake covered with grass, wild flowers, and trees.   I quickly found a cattle path that took me to the top of the levee where I parked, and walked down to the river.  Half a mile wide, and moving faster than I could walk, I watched tug boats and trees struggle against an invisible force.  Some days I to, struggle against deep invisible forces that seem to interrupt life’s flow, when all I need to do is to let go.  Today just let go.   

All of Who You Are

The waiting room was full, and the phlebotomist commented, “I hope it stays busy, for busy makes the day pass faster.”  I faced a 4-hours wait before my oncologist would give me the results.  She was right, busy was good.  The nurse handed me 3-pages of lab results, my PSA had raised only slightly, I took a deep breath.  My oncologist was pleased, my weight was down, no symptoms, and I look good.  We agreed, I’d have blood tests every 30 days, and we’d talk in December.  As I walked to my office, I realized I was I was back on a 30-day leach that requires me to be all of who I am every day. It’s kind of what it takes, right?  Be all of who you are today!   

Peace Garden

He’s not here in the mornings as I watch the sun rise around his desk, but most evenings after everyone else has left I’ll find him still working away.  We both served our country during war, he’s retired Army, and some evening we share our feelings about the wars of today and our memories.  Friday I reminisced about how it took me years to stop wearing my dog tags and a POW/MIA bracelet that connected me to lost friends.  Saturday, I woke up in tears, looked for my dog tags, walked outside and immediately smelled the flowers that reconnected me with my peace.  Years ago, the day I stop wearing my dog tags, I’d realized peace starts with me in my garden of family and friends.  Plant a seed for peace in your garden today. 

Decision Fatigue & Mindful / Mind Less Breaks

Psychologists tell us a major challenge for the 21^st century lifestyle is decision fatigue.  Our fast pace lives full of too many choices and decisions are like exhausting gym workouts where by the end of the day our ability to make good decisions has begun to fade.  What’s the answer?  Recognize we can’t be our best with back-to-back meetings, eating at all-you-can-eat buffets, and when we are tired or hungry.  We need to take micro-breaks every 60-90 minutes of our wake time and get out of our heads and into our hearts.  Stretch breaks, walk breaks, friend breaks, time spent being mindful of just being, not doing or thinking about doing.  Try a few mindful / mind less breaks today.      

Wisdom Donors - Jim Whitehead, Executive Vice President/CEO ACSM

Tuesday, I left for Chicago and a strategic planning meeting for the International Association of Worksite Health Promotion (IAWHP), an affiliate Society of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).  Jim Whitehead, Executive Vice President/CEO of ACSM, would be attending, like he has many times before, and for me this added an excitement that’s hard to describe.  Ever notice throughout our lives we have individuals that seem to magically appear sharing little pieces of their wisdom at the right time, that move us forward?  Jim has been a wisdom donor for me several times and yesterday as we said our goodbyes, I once again was in awe of the wisdom gifts I had received from Jim.  Thanks Jim!  Be open to wisdom donors in your life. 

Kayaking or Dreaming?

I’m always tired after the leukapheresis procedure, so after supper we drove to the lake house for a lazy weekend.  Late, Saturday afternoon I kayaked while MaryBeth slept.  It was like another world watching the kayak cut through clouds painted on the water, where at times fish seem to swim around the clouds.  At some point I watched a fish dart around the moon that was rising above the trees and I felt her shy smile and tender touch.  Sunday, MaryBeth and I kayaked after lunch, and as we watched storm clouds approach I was wrapped in a memory of long ago.  It’s the soft tender moments of life with those we love that turn the ordinary into memory moments that last a lifetime.  Cherish a memory moment today.    

Last Moments - Final Provenge Treatment

My last parachute jump, last ride in my 1948 Willis jeep, last day of high school in the library I loved so much, putting on my Army uniform for the last time, saying goodbye to the medical team at Tenneco, Chandra’s graduation from nursing school, Kaleb’s last football game, the last hug from my dad before he died, and so many more last moments that bubbled up this morning as I thought about today being my last Provenge cancer infusion treatment.  With age has come the realization that last moments aren’t an end, but new beginnings of possibilities and opportunities.  Last moments get us closer to who we are to be.  Savor last moments today.   

First Steps

Yesterday, my son sent a picture of his youngest going to his 1st day of school.  He’s standing backed up against a wall with a scrunched up face, with a look that says, “You’re kidding right?”  Last night I slept in the past with memories of a miserable 3^rd grade.  As an undiagnosed dyslectic school was tough, and as my parents lost patience my confidence and self-esteem dropped.  After graduation my mom and I met with my teacher and they both agreed I needed to repeat the 3^rd grade, and as I cried, I thought, “You’re kidding right?”  How many times in life do we find ourselves backed up against the wall taking a first step to rejoin life?  I’ve grown to treasure first steps, how about you?

Knockin' On Heaven's Door

Click to Hear Song

I started my blog as an internal Yammer, but at some point began posting it to six external blog sites and emailing it to ~1,000 friends, fellow cancer survivors and acquaintances.  Almost every day I get emails from individuals that have connected with my words and share their stories.  Yesterday, as I exercise walked Pandora played Eric Clapton's "Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” and I had to stop for the tears were coming too fast.  She’d written me before about her cancer journey, but todays email was trying to say goodbye.  The words drove my tears, as I thought about her courage, her love of family, friends, and life.  Today we honor her life with our tears.      

Time for Love

Friday, I lead a work-life balance / effectiveness session for the Houston First Corporate team.  They operate more than 10 city-owned convention, arts and entertainment venues in Houston.  We talked about how work-life changes as our life and career cycles change, but how prioritization remains the challenge. After the session I rode through the rain puddles and began thinking about the three-day weekend.  Our flower garden needed a good cleanup, plenty of clothes to wash from our trip, and the cat litter boxes were overdue their vinegar wash.  Lots of things to do, but I smiled as I pictured my real priority, my love MaryBeth.  Give those you love time in your life.