Nine weeks really isn't that long when it comes to a lifetime

"Nine weeks really isn't that long when it comes to a lifetime" -Serenity Bohon

I've already told you about Serenity, and the cancer battle she's fighting right now. But I have to write a little more. She probably doesn't know this, but she continues to teach me, every day, about what's important and what isn't.

I hear people at work complaining about mundane things. "I hate my hairstyle". "He doesn't like me". "I wasted all of this time and the sale I found didn't produce the 90% off that it promised". "Why can't I have a new PC?!!!"

I'm laughing at the last one, because I too, need a new work PC. I'm constantly saying out loud, "Fortune 500 company I work for, yet my PC is so two thousand and late". It sounds like a plane reving its engines when I turn it on.....but I digress.....

What's important? I've been asking myself this more and more lately. Does it matter if I'm wearing the right outfit? < No>. How about my hairstyle, does it matter? . Do I need to check out the After-Christmas-Sales because that that thing I don't need but must have is more than half off? . Do you care if my purse matches my outfit? I would say no, but maybe you do. I am now saying, that I don't care. None of these details matter in the grand scheme of things that we call life. Do they? Of course they don't.

What matters to me:
How you treat those that you love, and care about. Selecting goals, deciding to take action, and reaching them. How you pass the life test presented to you. Did you say Thank You when someone held the door for you? Did you listen when a best friend poured their heart out regarding a hurtful situation in their life? Did you do the right thing when you found yourself in a situation where what you did wouldn't be known to anyone but you? Do you have kids? Do they know you love them unconditionally? Are you patient? Do you show this patience with complete strangers that cut you off in traffic? When the sunset produces the most awesome tapestry you've ever seen, do you notice it?

I could go on for days. I think my bottom line is, does "this" really matter is being applied to my life daily now. We all encounter small irritations. Stuff that means nothing, really, in the long run. A  coworker that irritates us to no end. A parking ticket we feel we don't deserve. An irritating, nosy, inlaw that will not stop with the endless questions about our day. A class we signed up for, tried to pass but failed, leaving us with a disappointed feeling. But does it matter? Maybe it does on a personal level, albeit a small one. I don't want to take away from the everyday "nothing is going right" feeling we all get at times. I hear ya, life sucks sometimes.

But have you ever signed up for 3 rounds of chemo in the hopes that once you finish, you will never have to consider the thought again?

I haven't and I hope I never have to. I say that I understand, to anyone that has to go through something like that, but do I? Not really. I know it's hard, but have I experienced it? No.

My thoughts are these:

Live in the moment. Breathe in the tiny things. Say yes instead of no. Be brave. Be proud of your accomplishments. Say "I love you" when you do, and mean it. Donate the "stuff" you don't need. If you like ice-cream, go get some.

In a waffle cone.

Just live out loud, is all I'm sayin, okay?
I'll see you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS I may be wearing a "fight-like-a-girl" t-shirt at breakfast. If you want one, let me know. I have connections. =)

Addendum: please visit http://www.fightlikeagirlcancershirts.com/ for the awesome design of this shirt, and other goodies. It's a great sight, filled with hope and well.....FIGHT.