Write Letters to the Special People in Your Life
Preparing emotionally for living with breast cancer involves sharing special thoughts, values, and wisdom with your loved ones. These can be shared verbally or in writing, though the written word is more apt to have a lasting value. Writing down memories, hopes, and dreams with your loved ones frees you to be truly present with them now by giving you clarity on how your life has had meaning because of the other people in your life.
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Another way to tell your story is to do an oral history of you and your family that you can share with the important people in your life. Depending on your technical abilities, you can even have someone you are comfortable with videotape you and capture those messages that you would like to give your children, and words of encouragement to those family and friends who have relied on you. You can be creative and do individual ones for those people you cherish.
The storytelling process is dependent on you and can be anything you want it to be. Some examples include creating personal gifts or simply writing down who you would like to pass your favorite possessions on to. These may include a favorite piece of jewelry, furniture, books, or a special collection that has brought you joy and you know just the person who would appreciate it and share your love and passion for it. In order to write to others, you first need to write your own story or at least ask yourself the questions and the messages that you would like to share. And only then can you share with others … the rest of the story.
