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You are getting this
because you asked for it!!
If you're not sure why,
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Announcements:
2) Dave has a story published in
"Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book" - available in book
stores now!
3) The Journal of Nursing Jocularity
- check it out!
If
you like to laugh and you are a nurse, you will love this online magazine. Karyn Buxman, RN, MSN / Publisher says, "The
nurse who laughs, lasts." Believe us when we tell you that she is one
funny lady! Take a look
here and check the subscription page for a introductory special!
4)
Dave is now a regular contributor to EmpowHer.com
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Dave will be writing one or two short
articles every week about coping skills - the articles are short and
very quick reads.
Sign-up now and we'll let you know when new articles are posted! |
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5) DVD: "You Can Handle
More Than You Think You Can:
Your Amazing Ability to be Brave and Strong"
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When Dave's wife was first diagnosed with breast cancer
he thought, "How are we going to get through this... this is impossible"
but he is still here (and so is his wife)!
How did they get from "I can't do this" to "I
did this?"
Recorded live in front of 1,000 oncology professionals,
you will be moved, inspired, and empowered by this presentation in
which Dave explains the '11 L's of Caring and Coping' with stories
from their journey, plenty of humor, and two moving videos that
brought his audience to cheers and tears! To see clips from the
program and for more information:
www.HandleMore.com
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6) Complimentary coping
guides for your patients
We now have coping guides for your patients that
contain "The 11 L's of Caring and Coping." They can be ordered in
packs of 50; they are complimentary... shipping too! To see one and
place your order, go to
www.ThePPP.org/freestuff
Note:
available only if shipped directly to a clinic or support group. If
you are an individual patient or caregiver, or cannot order for a
clinic or support group, ask someone who can to order the guides for
you as well as all of their patients.
In this issue:
Article:
"Your Passions Can Save You'"
We Were Featured in The Wall Street Journal!
Humor from the trenches
Audiences and readers share their stories
This and that
Observations, musings, audio clips, stories
from the road, etc.
Meanwhile, back at
the ranch...
A usually-humorous glimpse into the personal life of
this cancer caregiver
Past Issues
About the Caring and Coping Newsletter
Links
Our Mission
Subscribe/unsubscribe
Please forward us
to everyone you know who is a patient, caregiver, survivor, or medical
professional. (Be sure they know it's from you, though; I don't want
them to think I spammed 'em!)
Patients/caregivers:
please tell your doctors, nurses, family, and
friends about us!
Medical professionals:
please tell your patients and colleagues about us! |
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Article: "Your Passions Can Save You'"
Here is an excellent way to reduce stress
and cope with just about anything: lose yourself doing something you
love to do.
I’m not necessarily talking about your career, although if your work is
doing something you love then you’re way ahead of the game. For example,
I have a quad (that’s a four-wheeled motorcycle that is not
street-legal, but only for off-road riding) that needed repair so I took
it to a local mechanic who has his own shop in an industrial park. When
I called him to check on it we started talking about the
incredible heat in the area where he works and he said, “I’m not
complaining… I get to work on motorcycles all day!” That’s a good place
to be if you can swing it.
We’re talking here about hobbies, passions, diversions; however you like
to characterize it. If you love gardening, for example, spending a
little time in the garden will do wonders for you. It doesn’t have to be
a lot of time; even 15 minutes would be a welcome and rejuvenating break
from the stress of the day. Whatever your passion, spending just a small
amount of time with it will have a surprising effect.
A lot of people tell me that they can’t do whatever it is because of
time or money. To that I say, “Poppycock!” Let’s talk about time. We are
all way too busy, which may actually be at the root of our stress. But
you don’t have to spend much time to see the benefits, as I mentioned
above. The big life-passion for me is total eclipses of the sun.
Obviously I can’t spend only a small amount of time to go see one, but
opening a book or magazine or searching the internet for photos doesn’t
take much time. Can’t take time away from the family? You don’t have to:
include them. Get them to help in the garden, for example.
Let’s talk about money. My passion can be very expensive, requiring
travel to all corners of the globe to see eclipses. But if I can’t
afford a trip, I can still enjoy the experience vicariously through the
eyes, photos, and stories of others. How about subscribing to a magazine
dedicated to your passion? If even that is too much, just buy a single
issue! Surf the net; you will find websites, discussion groups, and
forums on ANY passion and that won’t cost you much, if anything. Believe
me when I tell you that you don’t have to “get your hands in the dirt”
to enjoy some aspect of what you are passionate about. I know people who
are passionate about the beautiful colors of autumn. Even though they
can only enjoy them in person for a few weeks of the year, they still
find it wonderfully satisfying to research the best places to go, making
plans to go there, studying photographs and tips on taking them, and so
on.
So I ask you again: what do you love to do? Get out there and start
doing it, even if only on a very small scale. You will be ASTOUNDED at
the difference it will make in your life. If you don’t believe me, try
it. Just once. I dare you.
© 2010, Dave Balch ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Humor from
the trenches
...from audiences, readers, and me!
I was talking with a new friend from Tennessee, who was telling me about
a restaurant he went to that was in a bad part of town. "Let me
put it this way," he told me. "It was the kind of place where if you
didn't have a gun, they gave you one!"
Send me your own
humorous anecdotes!
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This
and that
Observations, musings, audio clips, stories from the road, etc.Here is a wonderful, creative,
and amusing video created to support Breast Cancer Awareness at
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, OR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw
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Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
A glimpse into the life of this caregiver
Click
here to see the "cast of characters"
Want to hear a dirty story? A white horse fell in the mud!
This is a very old joke, but actually happened here. Grace, our mare, is
white with burgundy colored spots that are about the size of freckles.
She likes to lie down and isn't particular about where. She also likes to
stand out in the weather, even though she can go in and out of the barn
as she pleases.
During a recent rain storm I went to the barn about 10:00pm to give her
her "bedtime snack" when I saw a dark horse coming toward me in the
darkness. I felt a pang of panic as I wondered who this horse was, until
I realized it was Grace, practically covered in mud!
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Links
Information about Dave's speaking programs, including
demo videos
Dave's speaking schedule
Sign-up to be notified when Dave will be speaking in
your area
No-cost services of The Patient/Partner Project
Use our articles in your printed or electronic
publications
Book:
Cancer for Two: An Inspiring True Story
for Cancer Patients and Their Partners
DVD:
You Can Handle More Than You Think
You Can: Your Amazing Ability to be Brave and Strong
Let us notify you when new coping articles are posted
on EmpowHer.com
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Our Mission:
Our mission is to reduce stress and
restore hope for those dealing with a serious or chronic illness or
condition including patients, caregivers, family, friends, medical
professionals, and support organizations.
We do this by sharing our unique
perspective in order to:
-
bring a new sense of empowerment to
patients and caregivers
-
bring a new level of understanding and
renewed sense of purpose to their entire support system of medical
professionals, friends, family, and support organizations.
-
Oh... and by laughing, too!
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The Patient/Partner
Project
P.O. Box 824 - Twin Peaks, CA - 92391
800-366-2347 or 909-337-3928
The Patient/Partner Project is a service of A Few Good People, Inc.
(c) 2010 A Few Good
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