Transformation

Transformation

Today as I was looking for a butterfly picture quote to send to someone, I found all these amazing quotes on Transformation. It made me realize that really, this process of Chemo, surgery, healing etc is really all that.

It was an epiphany to me because my book Falling Into Fabulous: A Phoenix Rising by Trisha Trixie is all about my 1st transformation in 2011 and how I overcame my life and moved on. Without realizing it, I was a caterpillar and now I am a butterfly. However, if I already did that, can a butterfly be transformed again?

Interesting facts for you...

"Studies performed on the caterpillars have also shown that they are almost whole new beings all together. Unless learned just prior to it undergoing metamorphosis, a butterfly will actually have very little memory of its life as a caterpillar. In a sense, caterpillars actually live and die TWICE. This is a very weird and odd evolution. One that doesn't fit the typical mold of change followed by other insects. "

So in essence, yes, I can transform again and I am doing just that.

This makes me wonder if book two should be Falling into Fabulous: A Butterfly Rising: The Cancer Chapters.

I always looked at myself as a Phoenix, getting burnt by life and ending up as nothing but ashes. A Phoenix rises from those ashes and because this amazing creature. Like me, or so I think.

Now thinking about this whole process as a Butterfly Transformation really has me thinking.

My friend Mandy calls it a process. Everything is a process.

This is my second transformation. In 2011 I was able to release all my old baggage, old hurts, old negative thoughts about others, myself, etc and move on with life. Take leaps. Take risks. Live the life I wanted. Start a business. Start another. Take chances. On Life. On Love. And be rewarded with those blessings. My life went from chaos to content. Until recently.

So what changed? Me.

I don't know why things happen and I don't always understand the reasons for why people must suffer, go through trials, deal with adversity and struggle, but I do know, there is a reason. There is a lesson. Sometimes, that lesson isn't even for us! It is for those around us.

I feel this is the case with my life and my cancer.

Who better to deal with such an overwhelming than and Overcoming Specialist? Who better to deal with Cancer than someone who has already learned how to let go, let God, and Overcome? Who better than someone who already understands the need for Transformation that someone who has already transformed once?

I have been truly blessed. I find my Cancer a blessing. I have learned so much and touched so many lives it is freaking amazing. Amazing isn't even a strong enough word!

Surreal.

This is my time to transform once again. To grow, to exalt to a high knowledge and understanding of life. To change from a Phoenix to a Butterfly. I am in my Cocoon right now. I am emerging while the whole world watches how I do it. How I overcome. How I conquer this.

It is important for me to be the instrument in his hands to be there for others. To listen. To have empathy. To have compassion. To help you understand Love. To help you understand Fear. To help you understand Life, perhaps.

I accept this destiny and fate in my life because I know my purpose here in life, on this earth, at this time. My mission, is LOVE.

I am determined to leave a legacy of love and if growing and going through this trial, helps you, another or even myself to grow and emerge and transform, then so be it.

I will be the Butterfly for you.<3

Living Life Despite Failures

Living Life Despite Failures

So many people tell me "I live vicariously through you!"

I tell them, "Live vicariously through yourself!!"

Then they say "Oh I couldn't, but I love how fearless and brave you are!"

My response to any of you who feel this way...

Oh pishaw!

You are fully capable of living the wonderful life you desire. The only thing holding you back is YOU, silly.

Stop being afraid. What is the worst thing that could happen? You fail?Oh no, not that! Failure is just a way of learning what NOT to do. That is all. Then you try again. And learn, ok don't do that either. Sometimes you have to fail a hundred or a thousand times before you get it right. Guess what? Sometimes you only have to fail once to learn that lesson in life you need.

Be fearless.

Take risk.

Leap without a net.

Love anyway.

Do it anyway.

Now, don't get down on yourself when you realize that YOU are the thing holding you back.

No shaming yourself, now.

You just do it. You just change. You just grow. You just leap. You just love. You just do. You just be. Just turn the page.

Oh but where do I start.

Well, let's see...wake up, live life the way you want. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Fall, fail, stumble, whatever, the pick yourself up, dust yourself off, check for bombs, put those out, then put one foot (metaphorically or realistically) in front of the other and GO!

You can do it.

I know you can.

Why?????????

Because if "I" can do it, YOU can too! <3

Gratitude

Gratitude

Many people wonder what I have to be grateful for. I have been through so much in life. I have suffered a lot. I have had a lot of drama, chosen and not. I have had to overcome this, that and the other, which is why I am writing a book about overcoming called Falling Into Fabulous: A Phoenix Rising by Trisha Trixie . Then last year...I was diagnosed with Cancer.

People look at me and say "How can you look at life as a blessing? How can you be so grateful? How do you share and show gratitude? How, how how? I reply...

"How could I not be grateful? How could I not share my gratitude? How could I not show it to others? How, how, how"

I have been given the gift of trials, adversity, issues. These things help build character. They test your strength. They test your bravery. They test your courage. They test your faith. Well, hells bells, they test everything now, don't they? Yes they do.

How we overcome, endure and handle these tests in life change us. Form us. Make us the beings we are today. These tests show our true character. They show others who we really are.

I am grateful for all my tests. I am not happy they happened, however I don't look down on what happened in my life either. I am who I am because of them not despite them. My spouse loves me because of them not despite them as well. My family, friends and all who get to know me, love me because these things, these trials, made me the strong, brave, fearless, bold, raw, real, authentic, honest to the core, audacious, fabulous person I am today.

I am grateful for those things who made me who I am.

Be grateful in the face of adversity. Look at that trail as a blessing in disguise. Honor it. Challenge it head on!

Be grateful for everything you have. Some have nothing.

Be grateful for the air you breathe, the sun on your face, the ability to see, feel, touch, taste. Don't take these things for granted. Some have non of these.

Be grateful you are still here on this earth.

Be grateful for life. <3

Life is for living, not just being endured.

Live life to the fullest. Live each day as if it were your last. It just might be. Savor it. Devour it. Eat it up. Live vicariously through yourself.

Dance daily!

Smile often!

Listen more!

Love freely!

Be Fabulous.

Because every single damn day we have choices and #1 when you open your eyes is...

"What do I have to be grateful for?"

~Make a list of at list 5 things.

~Carry a Gratitude book around in your purse. You can get little tiny notebooks at Dollar Tree, then decorate them and carry them in your pocket or your purse or satchel. Notice all the things you have to be grateful for.

~Do a Gratitude Rampage. Just write and write and write all the things you are thankful for once a week or more and just free write until you are exhausted from writing or typing.

~Smile at others

~Hold open doors

~Give compliments

~Join a Gratitude group on Fb or Page and watch and share

All in all Just Be Grateful.

Life is wonderful.

You just have to open your eyes to see it. <3

Leaving a Legacy

Do you ever just look at your life and wonder what is is you are leaving behind? What kind of legacy? What will people remember about you when you are gone? Do you ever stop and think, if this person (yourself or another) was gone and this house, this car, these cards, this computer, these clothes, these shoes, these remnants in a trunk..what WOULD it say about you? Would it say who you really are? Would you showcase the person you truly were? What about the posts you post on Facebook and other Social Media? What do those say about you?

I wonder so often now about those things and dearly pray and hope that you would find love. Love in all things. Love for my belongings. Love for the love others send me. Love in what I wear, who I am and what I believe. Love.

I am not afraid of dying.
I am not afraid to go.
I am not afraid to leave...
I am afraid of what I will or wont leave behind.

I want so much to leave a legacy of love and to do so requires me to be vulnerable at the core of my being to share that love with you. It is scary. It is frightening. It is tough. It is not easy. It is brave. It is who I am. I want to be the epitome of love. <3

Being Human

Being Human

You would think that in today's day and age that Being Human seems nearly impossible. Everywhere you turn its tech, tech tech. Don't get me wrong. I love tech. Our house loves tech. However, our house also loves RETRO. Retro future. Retro pin up. Classic Movies. The older way of doing things.

I write over 100 letters a month to people I don't even or hardly know.
I open doors for others.
I bake like grandma used to.
I say what I mean and mean what I say.
We are REAL in this house.

Mostly, we allow ourselves to be HUMAN.

That means IMPERFECTION

I swallow a lot of pills to keep cancer at bay and the hardest pill to swallow is to be vulnerable, real, authentic and raw. It is not easy. It is much easier to hide away our true selves. To not allow anyone in. To build up walls with Social Media, the Internet, Books, Games, even children can be a great escape.

To be human means to show up no matter what.
To be human means to allow yourself the right to be imperfect.
To be human means to accept yourself for who you are and not allow anyone or anything to SHAME you.
To be human means living life openly.
To be human means to allow and accept yourself to be just that HUMAN.

We are not infallible.
We WILL make mistakes.
We are NOT perfect.
We never will be. So stop trying so damn hard and just accept yourself for the wonderful you that you are.

Allow your own humanity to rise up and come forth.
Allow others in. Set boundaries, but let them in.
Allow yourself to be open.
Allow yourself to be real.
Allow...just allow and keep allowing until you have blossomed and when you have blossomed become anew again and again like yearly flower, ever growing and improving.

Allow, yourself to be human.

Give it time. It takes practice and patience.

You can do it though.

I believe in you. <3

I dedicate this to the most human person I know Isabel Faith Abbott

Cancer Sites

I have been wanting to put together a comprehensive list of Cancer Sites together and so here I am finally doing it. These are not one Cancer over the other, merely a compiled list I have put together. Later I will be showcasing more of the ones who has offered me FREE products and such, but you will find a few of them already on the list do that. I hope this helps you in your quest for information, gifts, connections and freebies to some if that is what you are looking for. Whatever your reason, please let me know if any of these links helped you in any way! Enjoy!

Most of what I found was from this original site
https://breastcancerfreebies.com/good-cheer/

They seem to have the most links for freebies and contacts. Check them out even if you don't have Breast Cancer, because a lot of the links apply to other cancers as well and some of the breast cancer ones still will send you something if you are honest with them.

(these are just a few I have for now, but will add more later as I find them)

http://livebyliving.org/live-by-living-2016-summer-retreats/

http://www.campdream.org/

http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/managing-your-care/mobile-applications

http://issels.com/

https://hopescarves.org/ (Free Head Scarf)

http://www.goodwishesscarves.org/request-a-wrap/ (Free Head Wrap)

http://heavenlyhats.org/ (Free Hat to those who qualify)

http://chemoangels.wixsite.com/chemo-angels-1 (They will send you cards to support you through Chemo and some gifts for free. Apply within)

http://www.cardcareconnection.com/ourprogram.aspx (Handmade cards to create, share and send to Cancer Patients)

http://www.thelydiaproject.org/

https://breastcancerfreebies.com/wigs/ (FREE WIGS)

http://www.divaforaday.org/ (Be a Diva for a Day for FREE)

http://www.threelollies.com/Default.aspx (They will send you a FREE sample box of Queasy Pops for when you are going through chemo)

http://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/learn-about-cancer-types/colorectal-cancer

https://cancercardxchange.org/

https://www.cancer.org/treatment/support-programs-and-services/patient-lodging/hope-lodge.html

http://sharsheret.org/product/financial-wellness/

http://cancercarecopay.org/

http://www.cancerandcareers.org/resume_reviews/new

http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/community/events/webinars

https://www.cancer.org/treatment/support-programs-and-services/road-to-recovery.html (Free Rides)

http://www.corpangelnetwork.org/ (fly free if you need to get to a treatment far from home)

https://www.extendedstayamerica.com/acs-partnership (Discounted rooms to Cancer patients)

https://www.pparx.org/

https://conquer-magazine.com (Free newsletter)

http://www.curetoday.com/ (Free Subscription)

http://w4cs.com/

http://www.stowehope.org/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chemo-calendar/id385497865?mt=8

http://cleaningforareason.org/

https://www.dolphinsplus.com/dolphin-swim-programs/omas-dolphin-swim

http://sailingheals.org/

http://lotsahelpinghands.com/

https://www.caringbridge.org/

https://www.carepages.com/

http://csc.mylifeline.org/getstarted

https://breastcancerfreebies.com/special-interest-groups/

https://breastcancerfreebies.com/how-to-give-back/

Here are some local freebies around the nation:

• California
• Colorado
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania

Places I do fundraising you might want to look into:

Bravelets (Be Brave Jewelery and Fundraising Opportunties)

https://www.bravelets.com/bravepage/trishatrixie-s-fighting-colon-cancer-fabulously

Life's Abundance (Health and Wellness for People and Pets)
https://www.lifesabundance.com/Home.aspx?Ath=True&hdr=&cat=4&realname=20267252

Dragontree (this is an affiliate only, must be invited)
https://dragontreeapothecary.com/products/dreaming-and-planning-create-a-meaningful-life/?aff=180



Of course there are the basics:

American Cancer Society
wwww.cancer.org

Patient Access Network Foundation
www.panfoundation.org

Patient Advocate Foundation
www.patientadvocate.org

Cancer Care, Inc.
www.cancercarre.org

Patient Services, Inc
www.uneedpsi.org

The C.H.AI.N Fund, Inc
www.thechainfund.com

Fifth Season Financial Corp.
www.fifthseasonfinancialcorp.com

Where There's a Need
www.wheretheresaneed.org

www.cancer.net

www.cancer.gov

www.webmd.com

www.medicinenet.com

www.mayoclinic.com

www.chemocare.com

www.cancerhopenetwork.com

www.thewellnesscommunity.org

www.cancerlegalresourcescenter.org

www.canceradvocay.org

www.lbbc.org

www.netwrokfostrength.org

www.ccalliance.org

www.leukimia-lymphoma.org

www.livestrong.org

ww.mylifeline.org

I am sure there are more I will and can add along the way. If you know of any, please comment and I will add it and update this list regularly. Remember, these are resources i have found and i am sure not extensive enough, but every little bit helps.

If there is anything else I can do to try and help you while I am also on this journey, please do not hesitate to ask.

Also I welcome any stories or comments you desire to share regarding your journey or someone else while along this path.

Until Next Time,

TrishaTrixie

Suggested Cancer Fighting Foods and Supplements

I found this site today while looking up what other supplements I should be considering. the good news is that I already am taking most of these. I will have to do research on the rest of them and give the list to HunePants to explore as he is the best researcher int he house and knows more about the herbs and things than I do because his family has a Health and Wellness shop in Racine, Wisconsin called Sheepish www.sheepish.us if you want to check it out. Here is the info I gathered from the site linked at the bottom off of Cancer Tutor...

(mind you this is not MY list, but one that I found and have combined a few of the articles together. please check out the links for further detailed information)

CoEnzyme Q10

Vitamin A

Vitamin B Complex & Folate – a B vitamin

Vitamin D(D3)

Vitamin E

Cod Liver Oil

Selenium

Potassium

Ginseng

Echinacea (herb)

Vitamin C &

Bioflavonoids

Green Tea

Tumeric (Curcumin)

Berries (especially blueberries / bilberries)

Soy (Genistein and Isoflavones) – e.g. soy sprouts

Garlic

Red/yellow Onion / Quercetin

Watercress

Broccoli and other dark green leafy veg

Whey protein

Zinc

Borage seed oil or Evening Primrose seed oil &

Fish (or fish oil) (but not shell fish)

CLA (conjugated linoleic acid)

Lipoic acid

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

Melatonin (sleep hormone – take at night)

Chromium

MSM-Methylsulfonylmethane or Dimethylsulfone

Cox-2 Inhibitors

No more than 25-30 percent of a person's diet should consist of foods high in Vitamin K, which include:

• broccoli,

• brussels sprouts,

• cabbage,

• collard greens.

• cucumber peel,

• endive,

• green scallion,

• lettuce,

• mustard greens,

• spinach,

• turnip greens,

• and watercress.

Garlic should be avoided for other reasons. Onions should be eaten in moderation.

While proteolytic enzymes are blood thinners, it is best not to try to balance blood-clotting foods and blood thinners. It is best to use moderation on both sides of the issue.

With regards to a cancer treatment, every food that we eat or drink can be categorized into categories:

• Foods that feed and strengthen the cancer cells and/or the microbes in the cancer cells and body. Examples would be refined sugar (e.g. see: Challenge Cancer Website), refined flour, soda pop, dairy products, etc.
• Foods that cause cancer (e.g. trans fatty acids [margarine, French fries and virtually every other processed food you buy], aspartame [Diet Coke, NutraSweet, Equal, etc.], MSG, polyunsaturated oils [e.g. corn oil], etc.)
• Foods that directly interfere with alternative treatments for cancer (e.g. chlorine, fluoride, alcohol, coffee, etc.)
• Foods that occupy and distract the immune system from focusing on killing the cancer cells (e.g. beef, turkey, etc.)
• Foods that contain nutrients that kill the cancer cells, stop the spread of cancer, or in some other way help treat cancer (e.g. purple grapes with seeds and skin, red raspberries with seeds, strawberries with seeds, broccoli, cauliflower, several herbs, carrots, pineapples, almonds, etc.)

If you are too weak to eat, there is an absolutely required food: organic beef broth.

Foods to Avoid :

Meat

Sugars and refined grains, including white flour

Salt (and salty foods – e.g. soy sauce)

Corn oil and most common cooking oils (use olive oil)

Margarine and other products containing hyrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils

https://www.cancertutor.com/cancer-diet/

https://www.cancertutor.com/mirror_lymphoma/

Hope this list helped you out in some way for yourself or for someone you love and care about. I knowit opened my eyes to foods and things I might need to take a closer look at!

Until Next Time,

TrishaTrixie