The woman sat thumb-tapping morning greetings on her iPhone to family and close friends. She felt energetic and adventuresome because a quick check of the weather had forecast a day bright with sunshine. There were a few matters to give attention to at home, but by mid-morning she would be outside with the others who would be walking, running, talking, laughing, and periodically just observing the joy that a sunny day brings. Sunshine was her energizer. She felt like two million dollars (One must allow for inflation)! What a glorious day! For about three-quarters of an hour, she happily texted messages from her iPhone. When she finally looked up and out the window, the day was overcast. Sunlight was cloistered behind dreary-gray clouds; there was no brilliance. In a second, her mood changed from joyful to downcast. In an instant, her mind sped from visualizing the possibilities of the day to mourning the restrictions of the day. An external factor was not what she thought it would be, and her mind went from the positive to the negative immediately.
You become what you believe. Oprah Winfrey, American media proprietor
That which is in our minds, colors the world in which we live. Daily, we are bombarded with the matters of life, but we alone determine what we will allow to germinate in our minds. Whatever, we permit to grow in our minds can be healthy growth to nourish our lives or weed-like growth that will stunt our growth and choke our life-possibilities.
The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Dolly Parton, singer, songwriter
For today’s Reflection, we share a writing by a child who decided the quality of his life after a diagnosis of a critical illness. It is a memorable example of the power of the mind over matter.
Reflections
Below is a writing by an eight-year-old who had been diagnosed with a brain tumor and his response to the prognosis after surgery.
“Anything Is Possible”
Anything is possible when you put your mind to it. I am a living example.
In April of 1998, the doctors found a brain tumor in my head. I them had brain surgery to remove it.
After my surgery I couldn’t see, couldn’t talk, and I couldn’t walk. I decided I was going to get better.
First, I had to get out of bed and learn how to walk again. I started to use a walker and I didn’t want to use it, so I learned how to walk without it. I practiced hard and got stronger and stronger. I learned how to talk again, and I got glasses to help my eyesight.
Once I did all these things, I had to start my radiation treatments. I had thirty-one of them. The treatments made my hair fall out.
Next, I started my chemo-therapy. I had eleven treatments. The chemo made me feel sick and tired, and I didn’t feel like eating.
But I was determined to get better. Soon all my treatments were over. I started feeling better and my hair started to grow back. My doctors said my cancer was all gone.
Anything is possible, I fought cancer and won!
Dorothy Watson Tatem, D.Min., ACC
Senior Associate
Next Step Associates, LLC
Cassandra W. Jones, Ed.D.
CEO & President
Recent Comments