100th Post

This is an exciting and special day not only because it marks one year since my liver resection surgery, but also because this post number 100 on my blog! Double yippee!

What started out as a way to keep in touch when my husband and I moved to China has turned into a resource for cancer survivors and illness sufferers. Oh and in-between, I chronicled six months of living in France. What a ride!

To commemorate the moment, I wanted to share a few of my favorite and most popular posts. It was really fun to look back. I love how this blog has served as a history of my life.

Thank you for reading.  Here’s to the next 100!

Most popular posts:
Waiting for Hair: The Toll of Chemotherapy and Cancer
For me, losing my hair wasn’t hard — it was the waiting for it to grow back that has been the most challenging.  And for the hair update, click here.

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2014, 2015 & 2016

Living Universal Truths on My Cancerversy
September 1st is my cancerversy and the universe conspired for some incredible things to happen.

Testing My Confidence
My terrifying debut to the french language.

Belgium: More Than Beer and Chocolate
Christmas in Brussels, Bruges and Ghent.

My Night in a Brothel
Spending the night in a 24-hour Asian spa – sketchy or awesome? Both.

 

Favorite posts:

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At the End of the World on Cancer Survivor’s Day

The Ordinary World
My journey through cancer and to the Camino de Santiago.

Lessons Learned in Advocating
Your life depends on not letting your guard down for a moment. Here are some of the important advocating lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Why I’m Kicking Italy to the Curb
Where my obsession with the Camino de Santiago all began.  To read all my Camino posts, click here.

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Holly visits China

Hol(l)y Crap
When one of my best friends visited me in China.

The Adventures of Henri & Moi
Driving a manual car in a foreign country is terrifying.

 

Camino de Santiago: Another Perspective

I’m really excited to have finalized a print piece on my insights on the Camino de Santiago for the Winter 2017 issue of Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center’s Momentum Magazine.  I can’t wait to post it, as soon as the article becomes available online. (Updated: Read that story here.)

In the meantime, here’s a video of my Camino companion, Kevin, who gave a talk at his synagogue earlier this month where he shares the important lessons and messages other pilgrims were sent to teach him. Perhaps you will recognize a someone in his story (around the 5:00 mark). 

 

 

The Ordinary World

 

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As featured on carcinoid.org

The Hero’s Journey is a narrative template identified by writer Joseph Campbell. It is said to be the greatest story ever told because it has appeared over and over in some of our most beloved stories and movies such as Jaws, Star Wars, and my personal favorite, Thelma and Louise.  It is an overwhelming obstacle assigned to an un-wanting individual who must find the strength to endure and persevere.   

It is my story and the story of many cancer survivors.

(…READ MORE)

 

This essay is a revised version of my April reading at the Bluebird Cafe, which was part of My 2nd Act: Survivor Stories from the Stage.