Late for Joy
This morning, I was running late. Now those that know me know, I don’t enjoy running late.
In fact, one friend has said I am the one to rely on to be there early, get the table and order the nibbles before anyone else gets there. Running late today, would mean I was late for chemo treatment. The Oncology nurses at Anam Cara definitely don’t deserve that disruption to the schedule.
I was running late though for a valid reason. I was immersed in the moment of being down the beach at Point Roadknight with Dusty Martin (my dog), as we watched the glorious sunrise, in the warm breeze. It was JOY.
Dusty was chasing the ball in the water, cooling down each time he entered, and I was swapping between deep breathing with my eyes closed, opening them up to watch the sun and making sure I threw the ball just far enough in for Dusty to fetch and return. It was superbly joyous and time consuming. A perfect reason to lose track of time.
The importance of moments of Joy is not lost on me. Often, I recognise it as it is happening and other times the joy hits me as I reflect on the adventure, moment or experience that has occurred. Last night at dinner we were seated at a round table in Airey’s Inlet, reflecting on our favourite parts of the family trip to Canada. The joy and impact that trip had on our family is something we will cherish the rest of our days. It has inspired the kids to be world explorers and was such fun to hear of their favourite places and experiences while we were over there. Sometimes it seems so long ago with all that has happened since we came home. But we did it. We had that adventure and it can’t be taken from us. We will make a conscious effort to remember and enjoy the moments we spent together making memories.
Now I can confirm, we didn’t end up late. Truth be told, I was half an hour early. Even with a stop at Bean Squeeze Bannockburn for the essential morning coffee along the way. Being early made me feel MUCH better than the thought of being late as I entered the St John of God Hospital and took the stairs to arrive at Anam Cara.
I started taking the stairs after the first treatment. An elderly man who is also receiving treatment, took them and mentioned they got the better of him that day. I was determined that if he took the stairs, I must too. So that is what I do. It is only one flight, but it is better for me than taking the elevator. It may even get harder as we delve deeper into the treatment and I will have done the “old lady body prep” to ensure I can still make it when it does.
Depending on the week, my treatment can take anywhere from 2 hours to 5 hours. This week was a short one. I have friends who like to sit with me and I enjoy time on my own too. It allows me to read my latest book, Life on purpose - how living for what matters most changes everything by Victor. J. Strecher. journal, write this blog or listen to the CHEMO playlist of uplifting music my kids made for me.
But today was a special one. My friend Em came to catch up and boy did we talk non-stop! We learned more about each other’s families, talked about our goals, upcoming adventures and the opportunities that await us in 2026. We laughed and were probably too loud, but we also provided Jen who sits next to me most weeks, entertainment as she listened to us. Jen interrupted the laughter at one point, and we thought we were too much. But instead, she let us know she loved to hear our laughter and energy as we caught up. It reminded her of her grandchildren and their zest for life. We provided Jen joy today. That felt good.
Today marks the half way mark of my first 12 weeks of weekly treatment. A milestone to recognise. I am taking each day as it comes and staying on the positive side as I work to find the lessons in this adventure. I won’t use that ‘J’ word. I prefer adventure. Signs are positive that we are winning already and I am running with that.
There are many fantastic people and services that support cancer sufferers. Including the McGrath Foundation Breast Care Nurses. I am lucky in the sense that I have two who support me as they job share. Both great ladies and full of information and honest support as I reach out and they come visit. One of them even fits in the theme of today as her name is Joylene. Can you believe that?!
Tomorrow will bring me more joy as Dusty and I go on our morning walk and see whatever the sunrise looks like. I am also spending time with my three nieces tomorrow which brings me and my kids so much joy. I’m smiling already at the thought.
I’ll leave you with a definition of Joy that sits well with me.
Joy - A sustained state of deep contentment and inner uplift characterized by feelings of meaning, connection, and well-being, often arising independently of immediate circumstances and distinguished from fleeting pleasure by its enduring, expansive quality.
