A New Beginning

I'm reposting this from my photography blog... since I think it fits in both places. =)
 


Well, folks, I'm back... once again. =)

A lot of things have happened in my absence... the biggest one being that I quit my job! Yes, you read that correctly: we're in a recession and I quit my job. It's kind of a terrifying thought in many ways, yet I know it was absolutely the right thing to do. 

While I don't have as much life experience as many others who have more, um, "wisdom" as we call it in our family (yes, years), or people who have kids, or those who have gone through layoffs, or other things like that, I do believe I've gone through enough life to realize that there are a few times in your life when you're faced with major decisions that will literally change the trajectory of your life and story. 

A few of my recent story-changing decisions include accepting a teaching position in inner-city Philadelphia with Teach For America in 2006, and saying yes to my ridiculously tall (and skinny) Asian man on August 10, 2008. Now, I'm adding to that mix quitting my job in 2010. 

So why is this such a big deal? I mean, it's "just" about money, isn't it? Not exactly. In a few words, it's simply that I'm saying yes to myself. I'm saying yes to following my dreams; I'm saying yes to letting myself be happy; I'm saying yes to allowing myself to nurture myself as an artist. I'm simply saying yes to things that up until now I've said no to for the sake of being responsible. 

I realize that's a pretty privileged thing to be able to say. Believe me, I absolutely recognize that it is! But after many long months of conversation with Josh, along with lots of prayer, fretting, tears, soul-searching, reflection, and advice from family and friends.... I came to the conclusion that if I wasn't in an "emergency" situation (i.e. one where using some of our savings was an acceptable thing to do), I didn't know when a situation would ever come along. It wasn't a time where Josh and I had physical needs to take care of (mortgage, bills, etc).... but it was a time of desperate emotional and spiritual need. I don't want to live my life with regrets, and trust me, having my spiritual life, my marriage, and my happiness suffer would be things I don't know if I could forgive myself for.

So... I quit. And this past month has been a time of figuring out what exactly that means... but also just a time of stepping back, stepping out, and giving myself room to breathe and recover. And slowly, I'm starting to step back in. 

I know I've been gone for a very long time, but don't be fooled -- I haven't stopped taking photos. I'm still committed to a photo a day; I've just been horrible at posting them. =) However, it's time to step back into this place, and I'm excited to do so.

I'll also have some exciting news to update you on over the next few weeks/months... such as a very important piece of mail I should be receiving this week or next from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. =)

One last thing: I'm really glad you're all along with me on the journey.

Goal vs. Plan

In college, one of my theater professors told me that when you're doing an acting scene, you should always have a goal, but not necessarily a plan. See, if you have a plan, it only leaves room for your actions and the actions that you want everyone around you to have. But that isn't how things happen. People don't always do what you want - in fact they rarely do, and if you're relying on them to do certain things that they don't do... well, then what happens to your plan? However, if you have a GOAL, and you go into a scene with that in mind, there are MANY ways to get where you're going. You might have challenges along the way, and people will definitely react in ways you weren't planning on them reacting (they have their own desires and objectives, after all), but if you keep your goal in mind, you can adjust, get creative, and have a lot more opportunities and paths to take to reach your goal.

That saying has become one of the ways I look at life now. Sure, I am a little obsessive about planning and being prepared (that's still important)... but I can't control what anyone else does, and I don't know what's going to come next each day. I don't know what opportunities will arise, or what doors will be closed. But if I have a goal, I can keep working towards it in some way, even if it wasn't a part of "the plan". I can accept the challenges and look at them as things I can learn from - even if I don't like them, even if they take me a direction I didn't want to go, even if the timing is different than I'd like. God knows what I need most - and has my best in mind - even when I don't want to recognize it! I just have to trust Him with that and keep moving forward, constantly learning and growing. There are times when it will feel like everything's going crazy, and my plans will be thwarted... but I just have to keep adjusting and working towards my goals, trusting that it will all work out as it should in the end.

Now that's not too hard to do, is it? =)

Thinking Pink

Some members of our school/work "team" who walked to support my coworker, during the Susan G. Komen 5K walk in Philadelphia last month.

I know October is over, and thus Breast Cancer Awareness month has "officially" ended, but I seem to have been slapped in the face this year with dear women in my life facing breast cancer and the threat of it, and I see no reason to lock discussion of it away to just one month during the year.

In the past 6 months, my boss/coworker was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer and is still being treated and fighting it, my aunt (on my mom's side) had a double mastectomy in August, my high school youth pastor was diagnosed in September and is going through chemo (while her husband and sons are in Azerbaijan, teaching and doing ministry), and my mom had a surgery last week to remove what turned out to be a benign lump.

So, let's talk. (And, as a disclaimer, I am NOT an expert on this. This is just gathered from my personal experiences, conversations, and a small bit of research on the matter.)

It's estimated that about 10% of breast cancer cases are inherited through the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. On my mom's side, my great-grandmother died of breast cancer, and my grandma and two aunts (including the one who just had a double mastectomy) have survived it. My mom has to get mammograms every 6 months because of her risk. Also, my grandmother on my dad's side died of ovarian cancer. The odds don't necessarily look that great for me and my sisters.

However, there is something that could help. Although it's still controversial for some people, there is genetic testing available if it seems that breast cancer (or ovarian cancer) run in your family. I am actually not sure if my mom has had the testing done, but if she has and she is negative for either of the abnormal genes, then my sisters and I may be ok. However, I personally am considering having it done anyway. The presence of an abnormal gene doesn't mean that someone will absolutely get breast cancer - it just means there's a higher risk and that you need to be much more aware and responsible with care and check-ups. For instance, instead of starting your yearly mammograms at 40, you should talk to your doctor about when to start (which could be much younger, and/or more frequently - and you should also have your doctor give you an examination every year during your physical check-up).

Going back to the other 90% of cases that are not inherited, there are a few key points to take note of (and what I really want you women reading this to take into consideration). Most of the factors that cause you to be more at risk for breast cancer are out of your control -- if you're female, have a family history of breast cancer, and getting older (men can get breast cancer, too, but only account for about 1% of all breast cancer cases). HOWEVER, there is one thing you can control: exercise.

Recent studies have shown that regular exercise is linked to preventing breast cancer, and then also improving your chances of survival if you are diagnosed with breast cancer -- especially in women over 50. Take a look at some statistics, reported on breastcancer.org:

• Women who exercise regularly throughout their lifetimes are 20% less likely to develop breast cancer compared to women who don't regularly exercise.
• Women in their 50s who regularly exercise more after age 50 than they did before age 50 are 34%-41% less likely to develop breast cancer compared to women who don't exercise more after age 50.
• Regular, moderate intensity exercise helps lower breast cancer risk no matter a woman's weight, family history of breast cancer, or menopausal status. In short, just about every woman can lower her breast cancer risk by regularly exercising at moderate intensity.
  

So, in short, exercise always helps... and it's never too late to start. I don't know about you, but those statistics are pretty powerful, especially since we're just talking about prevention here (it's also very important if you are diagnosed with breast cancer - improving your survival rate by almost 50%).

What is it that makes exercise so important? Well, from what I can gather, for the 90% of people with non-inherited breast cancer, it's got a lot to do with hormones. Many breast tumors are fed by estrogen... and, as one site explains, the more fat you have on your body, the more estrogen you produce because fat cells contain enzymes that increase estrogen production. Also consider that physical activity affects the circulation of your hormones, and may lower your estrogen levels if you are more active.

Exercising may not be the end-all magic answer, but it definitely is a huge factor. Add in eating well, maintaining a healthy weight (which exercise obviously helps with), getting yearly check-ups and/or mammograms, and perhaps even getting genetic testing, and you're in a much better place than doing nothing. While you may not be able to have a foolproof prevention method, you'll have a much better chance of catching things early on if you are diagnosed, and being able to successfully get treatment and survive. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a pretty good to for me, and one I want for my mom, sisters, and other women in my life.

If you would like to learn more about breast cancer, you can follow the numerous links, and if you'd like to make a donation to breast cancer research, you can visit the well-known Susan G Komen Foundation's website. They also have a LOT of information about breast cancer, as well as links to various support groups, places to share your story, and ways to get involved.

This is important. Make sure you and especially the women in your life are thinking pink. Please don't ignore this... make sure you, your mom, your sisters, your wife, your aunt, your coworkers... whomever! Make sure they're working to take care of themselves and that they are DEFINITELY getting checked yearly. Trust me - it can make all the difference in the world.

A Weekending Thought

"Let no one ever come to you without leaving

better and happier." Mother Teresa

(A photo of my dear friend, Patye, and her daughter, Amelie. I can think of no better example than Patye of someone in my life who I always feel better and happier after having talked to and been with. You can definitely catch a glimpse of the precious love she bestows on all those around her as she's here with little Amelie.)

A Thought to Think On

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment

before starting to improve the world." Anne Frank