“Always be yourself unless you can be a Unicorn then always be a Unicorn”
In my first blog, I talked about taking on the Wonder Woman persona during my cancer journey. What you need to know is I actually had two personas’! My other persona was “Unicorn”.
First a little history…My position at the hospital, where I work, is called Unit Coordinator or HUC for those of you who are familiar. A friend who worked in another department had asked what my position was called, and the person replied Unit Coordinator, but she thought she had said Unicorn. In hearing the story, I decided I would much rather be a Unicorn than a Unit Coordinator! Who doesn’t want a little more sparkle in their life!?! We have enjoyed many laughs and National Unicorn Day (April 9th) is always a special day if I’m working.
Sometimes when people ask you a question while on your cancer journey, your first reaction is to be the Wonder Woman, always strong, but occasionally it is okay to answer with the Unicorn persona. For me, the Unicorn persona help me sugar coat things just a little because I thought do people really want to know exactly how you’re feeling? Do they want to know that just looking in the mirror can be hard? Do they want to know that all you want to do is stay awake, but you fall asleep as soon as you sit down? Do they want to know you tried on 8 different hats/scarves to get out the door and still not happy with the results?
I believe people are truly concerned about you when they ask how you are doing. But honestly, if I chose to tell them what I really felt like sometimes, I felt I would probably scare them away. Nobody wants to hear the ugly side of cancer. Have you ever heard the saying “fake it till you make it?” By being the Unicorn, I think it helped me continue to be positive and yes, I would sugar coat things, but maybe in the long run it helped my own thinking too.
Follow the advice of the Unicorn while on your cancer journey:
Follow the Rainbows: Every day is a new day. When you get up in the morning look and appreciate what God has made. Whether it is a beautiful sunrise or a stunning sunset. Take a moment just to appreciate it. And yes, if you are lucky enough to see a rainbow, I hope it fills your soul.
Keep your head Up: Don’t hide during your cancer journey. Keep your head up and try to keep a smile on your face. It will do wonders for you emotionally. Keeping your head up also means to pay attention, listen to your body, rest when you need to rest.
Be Legendary: Make a list of all the things you still want to do and start working on them now. Nothing is to hard to reach. Sometimes when one of your worst fears is already happening to you, what you thought was scary before now seems trivial.
Spend time in the Forest: During my chemo treatments, I always felt I needed to keep my good cells happy. I believed that the more I kept my good cells happy and strong, the less chance they had to be compromised by chemo. For me that was being outdoors, breathing in all the fresh air. Going for a walk, mowing the lawn, or maybe gardening is your thing.
It’s okay to be a little mysterious: We all have tough days (even with no cancer). When those days happen, it is okay to step aside and give yourself a break. It is okay to cry, get it all out. Reach out to a friend or family, but the next day put that smile back on.
Create your own little Fairytale: You are in control of your life’s story. Add a little more sparkle and throw in a few rainbows!!!! Believe you are the Unicorn bringing hope, internal strength and luck. Put on that special outfit even if it is just an ordinary day.
Live a Magical Life: Spend more time with the people who bring you joy and make you laugh. Go on more adventures…even if it is just a shopping adventure! Do what you love and love what you do. Whether you have cancer or not, don’t wait for the perfect time, DO IT NOW!
So, Wonder Woman or Unicorn? That’s the beauty of this journey, you can make it be the perfect combination for you!
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