Breast Cancer Awareness Month or Love Yourself Month

Dear Mom,

Forty years ago, I don’t believe October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Medical procedures, awareness, and the way in which patients are treated are so much different now than when you were going through treatment.

I recently read a friend’s blog (www.writinginthebuff.net) who talked about breast cancer. It made me wonder why I hadn’t thought about telling you about Breast Cancer Awareness Month especially since it took your life. Silly me.

I wanted to beat myself up about it, but then realized that part of my wrist problem (yeah, it flared up again) has to do with my self-loathing. I think. It makes sense to me since medically there is nothing wrong with my wrist. I feel like it is Spirit trying to say, See what you’re doing—all this beating up on yourself is turning into physical pain. Who knows, could it lead to disease such as cancer?

I plan to make a conscious effort to be more loving to myself. If I’m able to give love so freely to others, why not to myself? Did you do that to yourself? I often wonder what you thought about in terms of your self worth. When I hear your sisters talk, they never give their selves the kind of credit they so lovingly deserve. It’s with little things, but it all adds up.

So I’ve decided I’m going to change my awareness to: Love Yourself Month (or Love Yourself Year). It has a more positive ring to it—and certainly not to take away all the good things folks are doing to bring awareness to those about breast cancer—it’s just something I need to do for me.

Love myself.