Star Date 01042023. Year 25.

Year 25. For reelz? I have no idea what I was doing on this date in January of 1998.  I DO know, I was completely clueless about the turmoil inside me and impending war. 

It's going to be a good year.  I almost said "interesting" and well that, too. But, I am committed to good. Twenty Five years is to be celebrated and reveled in. So, this is my plan.

Today, I need to pay homage.  One of the Grace Project Warriors passed away from breast cancer over Christmas. "The Grace Project is an empowering photographic project by fine art photographer Charise Isis that captures the courage beauty and grace of those who have had mastectomy surgery as a result of breast cancer."  It's an amazing collection of photos of beautiful women and men who have bared their bodies....and souls to help educate, reduce fear and take back their power.

The woman who died, Eileen Fischer wrote this poem as part of her photographic piece. It speaks nay SCREAMS, to me. Had I to do it again, I might have made different decisions about my body. It's a clumsy explanation about my recent surgery, collateral damage and all that.

Mirrors
When I look in a mirror
I see a deformity that is hard to explain
A body devastated by disease
I feel odd and different
I am often afraid
When I look to the sky
I see infinite possibilities
In the stars, moon and what lies beyond
I gain strength, courage and grace
And I am no longer afraid
When I look out at the ocean
I feel small
I gain amazement and tenacity with each wave
That crashes to the shore
And I am no longer afraid
When I ground myself on this earth
I see my friends and my family
While they believe I have strength and courage
It is them —they give me these gifts
And I am no longer afraid
I am surrounded by the sky
The earth and the ocean
I am surrounded by my friends and family
Near and far
Mirrors everywhere
And I refuse to be afraid


-Laura

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