Category Archives: philosophy

what a photo!

27 Wednesday Aug 2025

Posted by in andalucia, philosophy

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Posted on Bluesky by pal Nick Lloyd, who runs fabulous Civil War history tours in Barcelona – look him up if you go for a unique way of discovering the city. The Iberian lynx was on the verge of extinction for years but have recently been reclassified as “vulnerable”.  Magnificent creatures.

What a photo! A young Iberian lynx outside an abandoned barn where he was born, Sierra Morena, Andalucía. By Sergio Marijuán. This camera trap image was a candidate for the 2025 Wildlife Photograph of the Year organised by the Natural History Museum of London. ~Nick Lloyd

finding a new “normal”

30 Sunday Aug 2009

Posted by in cancer, health & happiness, home, hope, life stuff, philosophy

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tightrope

Awhile ago I read this on the Colon Club forum and it really hit home.

“The problem right now is I go through such mixed feelings, and I get lonely because there is not anyone with whom to share them as I know very few people who have had cancer. I am tired of not “feeling” myself. I know things from here on out will never be quite the same. I have battled with this neuropathy for some time now and I battle with work and appointments. I need balance! I do take anti depressants but think talking to others will help me. Others know what it is like, this “lonely” feeling. Note: I am not suicidal and I am happy to be alive. I just need friends like me. Once you finish chemo, it’s like everyone forgets that anything is going on with you? Anyone else share my feelings?”

In fact, I was going to post this last March and then I found out about the recurrence and was suddenly back on chemo. Thing was, even six months after the first chemo I was still feeling not quite myself. I have since come to the conclusion that my pre-cancer self is gone for good. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it takes some getting used to…

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breathe!

07 Tuesday Jul 2009

Posted by in cancer, fitness, health & happiness, life stuff, philosophy, yoga

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yoga_stretch
It’s a conspiracy I tell ya.

Ever since I made the decision to take time out to heal so many positive things have happened to me that I feel sure that I made the right decision. And the main recurrent theme has been remembering to breathe. First “Bob” sent me some good advice about yoga breathing and described a good one for me to practice that would help me focus on the present.  And of course we do various breathing exercises in yoga class. Then the other day I read this lovely quote…

Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh

I’ve been doing that one a lot since then and it really feels good. And then today someone on Twitter linked to a blog called Zen Habits and this wonderful post called (you guessed it) Breathe. It’s as though all of a sudden the universe is intent on getting me to breathe properly. And also to work on personal growth stuff. I had a quick look at the archives on Zen Habits and think I will do quite a bit more reading there. I really like the simplicity of the posts.

celebration

14 Sunday Jun 2009

Posted by in cancer, change, food & drink, friends, health & happiness, home, hope, life stuff, love, philosophy, photos, tapas

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becerrita(click on pic to enlarge)

On this week’s A Day at the Hospital post I told you that something wonderful had happened and that Nog and I went out to celebrate. Later I told you the reason for celebrating, but I never told you what we did. By the time we left the hospital that day it was almost 2 o’clock and, since I knew I had some extra cash, I decided it was high time I treated Nog to a tapa snack as he has been treating me since I got sick and haven’t been able to work.

And so we took the bus over to Becerrita and had a lovely tapa lunch. Calamares, lamb in honey sauce, potato croquettes and pork tenderloin with wild mushrooms. Then a nice walk home while I thought about the email I was going to send “Bob” that evening.

To be honest, every day has been a celebration since I was given the amazingly fabulous gift of a month to heal. It’s really changed my life and I am suddenly appreciating all the “little things” so much more. I guess I’d been feeling kind of hopeless and at the end of my rope, and so being given this chance to do things the way I feel I need to in order to get better ended up starting a whole series of positive changes. Still taking baby steps, but doing a little every day.

Having hope again is a wonderful thing.