by Annie Hurlburt
When diagnosed with cancer ten years ago, I often heard that I was to just think positively, become a fighter, and that I needed to do battle in order to become a cancer survivor.
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It so often felt that it was probably my fault that the cancer cells were busily replicating themselves in my body due to me not being positive enough or fighting in the right way. It was my personal responsibility to get this formula right. My own wrestling match, to get down on the mat and do battle with the enemy and win at all costs.
My contest consisted of having access to a medical system with whole teams of amazing professionals, which filled me with immense relief. My daily ‘walks of gratitude’ up Mosquito Creek gave my overwhelmed mind something else to focus on, at least for a little while, every morning.
The daily ringing of the phone, with my friend in Utah on the other end of the line, who was willing and able to truly see me, hear me, and walk along side me, providing a lily pad of calmness and hope in my day. Having my husband and son attend each of my medical appointments with me, allowed me to not have to try and remember all the important medical information.
I often saw this time in my life as a time where I was sustained, supported, carried and uplifted, time and time again versus constantly doing battle. It was through being a peacemaker and being tenderly carried that helped me be both a warrior and a peacemaker.
Annie Hurlburt came to Callanish a few years ago, through her connection with Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) led by Sarah Sample. She took this course shortly after her breast cancer surgery in 2010 and is eternally grateful that this has led her to the incredibly supportive community of Callanish.