Pep Talks & Plot Twists

Words to Inspire:

"Showing up is not all of life, but it counts for a lot."  ~Barbara Kingsolver

Hey friends,

Last time I mentioned scans and the waiting and how everything came back clear. And it did—mostly. There’s one pesky area flagged for a mammogram that looks like necrotic tissue—a natural part of breast reconstruction. Not all of the tissue survives, but your body usually eliminates it. It's important to understand that mammograms are used to view breast tissue. My chest is no longer breast tissue. It's abdominal tissue. Rather than risk damaging my delicate newly formed chest, I pushed for an ultrasound instead. I reasoned that an ultrasound is the next step after a questionable mammogram (not my first rodeo) and could tell them what they wanted to know. Without risking the integrity of my "breasts."

After three rounds of phone calls and a week and a half of explaining my situation to one person after another, I enlisted my plastic surgeon's nurse to confirm my reasoning. Which she emphatically did. When that still didn't sway the powers that be, I suggested the radiologist call the plastic surgeon or nurse himself. I mean, he could read all of this in my file, but I digress. And while I appreciate him sticking to his guns for the sake of a patient (I'm rejecting it was his God complex rearing its ugly head) the stress level of this runaround was...a lot. I got the call yesterday that they will do an ultrasound. If I’d followed orders blindly, two grueling years of reconstruction might have been jeopardized. I don't have enough four-letter words for this insanity. So, here is your health hack...

HEALTH HABIT/HACK:

While we’re often encouraged to be polite and accommodating, deep down we know when something isn’t right. That quiet gut voice isn't just noise or anxiety. It's wisdom! Trust that instinct. Question the process. I've said it before but it bears repeating. Don’t be afraid to advocate for the care you deserve. Sometimes, being your own advocate is the best way to protect the hard-won progress you’ve made. Even when it feels like you're being a pain in the ass. And it's coming off like the job you never applied for.

MAD DOG MOMENTS:

In less motivating news, our fur crew (the dog and the cat) are not fans of our empty nester travel life. You’d think they’d be used to our comings and goings by now, but no—every trip earns us the cold shoulder and a performance worthy of an Oscar. Mad Dog recently staged a sit-in at the back door when he saw the suitcase. The cat? She took a more passive-aggressive route by barfing on mat. Good thing they're cute.

Still, travel is our joy, and we’re leaning into this freedom. You raise them, launch them, and then—spoiler alert—you realize  you still really like the person you married. 28 years later!

ON THE WIP:

Book One is so close I can smell the cliffhanger.

Writing this contemporary YA/NA series has been slower than I’d hoped (apparently, real life doesn’t pause for fictional deadlines), but I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel—and it’s not a train. Book One is finally shaping into something I’m proud of.

Everly and her guilt-ridden, emotionally-armored love interest are whispering in my ear again (sometimes yelling). Turns out writing dialogue is my favorite. I know. Shocking. I'm such a quiet person. (wink)

Instead of books and beats this time, I want to get real for a second and hope you don't all unsubscribe.

Real Talk: Social Media… Meh

I’ve been thinking about this one and I’m still not sure how much to say, but here it goes: social media can feel like a glitter-covered dumpster fire. It has its perks, especially for indie authors, yet it never quite fills the happiness quota. You may see me online a lot, but that doesn’t mean I'm head over heels for it. It’s more like dental visits—necessary, but mostly a pain in the ass. It's one of those muscle memory situations. I hope I can get comfortable with being uncomfortable for the sake of growth and success. And if you see me out there trying, play along with a like or a comment. It helps dial down the smell of the dumpster fire.

Final Pep Talk

Whether you’re navigating health stuff, rebuilding strength, or just surviving spring break with kids at home all day (Lord help you), don’t underestimate the power of small steps. Ten minutes of movement. One more veggie. One chapter. One belly laugh. Tiny choices are the building blocks of massive comebacks. I, for one, am in my comeback era. Catch me at the gym getting my arms back. I hope! Upper body is tricky after reconstruction.

And speaking of spring break, my youngest daughter just came home for hers, and we had the joy of taking her college graduation photos in one of our favorite spots. The photographer—one of my sweet friends—let me crash it and took a few author pictures for me. Between the wind, rain and my general awkwardness, it was more comic sketch than photo shoot, but we had fun. Also, peep some of my favorite bookshelf ornaments. There's a little bit of everything in that stack.

Let me know what you think of the shots. The goal was to capture the new hair (I've had years of growing out the ridiculous chemo mullet). The weather had other plans. Such is life.

Until next time—

Wishing you happiness, good health, and good books,

Carol