I had cancer in my tonsils at age 22. My kidneys quit working when I was 36. Now, at the age of 50, I'm in the process of beating breast cancer. What in the world could give one ordinary woman so much to deal with? My theory is that the toxins in my surroundings while I was a kid growing up in the Lake Erie water shed were way too much for my body to handle. It does me no good to be angry about it now. But it does make me want to reach out and tell the world that we can not keep polluting our environment and expect that there will be no consequences. I and the thousands of women facing frightening treatments and uncertain outcomes are the consequences.
Protect your sisters, your daughters, yourselves. Be conscious of your own actions and the practices of the businesses you work at and patronize. Look at the ways they play a part in improving or destroying the world around us and make your voice heard if they are endangering our children's future. We have to take care of each other.
Like Terri Garr observes in her book "Speedbumps: Flooring It Through Hollywood," when we hit a speedbump - when things get difficult - it forces us to slow down, be careful - mindful of our needs and of what is happening to our selves and those we love. And then we get over the speedbump, we keep on going, hopefully smarter, happier, and in a way that contributes to easing the suffering.
Slow down, be curious, make your needs known, and take good care of the Earth and those around you and they will take good care of you.
San Clemente, CA
