I Had Cancer. Let Me Tell You What Chemo Patients Really Need.

verabear Intentional Living

Time. Essential oils. You taking my husband on a date. At the worst time in my life, I could have used a gift registry for things like these.

Source: I Had Cancer. Let Me Tell You What Chemo Patients Really Need.

(No, I didn’t have cancer. I am using WordPress’ Press This feature and the article title was assigned automatically.)

Anyway. So I had recently read Cancer is a Bitch, so one  might say that reading this piece from a cancer survivor is quite timely.

My takeaway – Gifts of time. It’s not just friends or family who are sick or getting treatment who would find such gifts priceless and valuable. Most any one would appreciate it. I know I would.

I think that if we really try hard, we can find ways to gift time and experiences to those dear to us.

I haven’t been a great gift giver lately. I’ve gone commercial, or I’ve resorted to picking items from social enterprises or handmade bespoke items just so my gifts would be meaningful. But if I really put more thought and love into the gifts, I would probably be able to find out what the recipient would appreciate more – because it answered a need they may not have even known existed.

Right now, I would appreciate a car wash. Haha. It’s just one of those things I choose not to spend my time on, you know? You don’t even have to wash it yourself. Just take the time to bring my car in for a good cleaning. I would be so thankful. 🙂

I do not mean to trivialize the point of the author from the Story of Stuff Blog. I just really feel that it applies to so many people and to a variety of situations.

I am also at this point where I want to be more intentional in how I spend my time. I’m surely a work in progress. Much of my time, for sure, is wasted on things that aren’t important. Reading about gifts of time and experience just fits right into that concept of intentional living that I would so like to achieve.

What do you think?

Currently Saturday

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Currently…

• Enjoying the beginning of what promises to be a happy weekend
• Listening to happy noise being made by Alexiess
• Anticipating a big dinner courtesy of the husband who is getting supplies at the mall next door as I compose this
• Contemplating about this One Bedroom Executive Suite at Aruga by Rockwell that is the perfect size for Alfred and me. The only thing missing is space for our computers (though I’m slowly beginning to see myself as a laptop kind of girl (I never was))
• Getting hungrier by the minute (lol)
• Staycationing for the first time. We picked a room where we could entertain but so far the party planning is fizzling out. Good thing my nieces were able to come at a moment’s notice (they were really coming to bring me my purse which I had left at the other car).

Sleeping in, swimming, and using the full-service kitchen + washer and dryer. These are all included in our planned activities. Right along eating, videoke singing, and just hanging out. For now, taking a break is top priority.

I have thought about being more intentional, about being more purposeful in how I spend my time. To kick that off, I planned this weekend of rest. We need this, because I’ve just had a month of adjusting at work, and coming up is more weeks of real hard work.

Wake Up to Life

verabear Intentional Living 21 Comments

Alexiess, is my first cousin twice removed. I could just easily say too, that she’s my granddaughter (thru my cousin). She turned 1 year old, and was Christened, yesterday April 29th.

She is so pretty, isn’t she? And that tutu dress? So cute and so bagay for her (suits her perfectly).

How time flies. She now has several teeth. Walks easily with assistance (not brave enough to walk on her own just yet), and very noisy. She knows how to catch your attention, loves to sing along, and knows how to get exactly what she wants.

Looking back at this photo from about 10 months ago, I can’t believe how much she’s grown. She no longer fits on her bouncer, and we definitely cannot leave her on that any more. And she does more stuff than sleep and suck now. She loves to eat, and crawl, and go on car rides.

How time flies.

We celebrate the milestones of Alexiess’ childhood now, but what really comes to mind now is how we should cherish each moment and how we need to be present.

Once again I am reminded to wake up to life. I wouldn’t want to miss so much of life while I sleep. If you know what I mean.