Acceptance, Denial & Sublimation

Dear Blogger Family & Friends,

Welcome, welcome, welcome. Big hugs all around to each and every one of you.Hope you had a happy St. Paddy's Day.....whether you were guzzling green beer in a local pub, or sharing corned beef and a movie in the midst of a pre-Spring blizzard. I personally enjoyed an evening of good food, company, and conversation with the lovely lasses from our SOS support group. And, on the other end of the coast, my son and girlfriend were playing planes, trains and automobiles in an attempt to get from Seattle to Philadelphia....a little more adventure than they bargained for, but a memorable Spring Break none-the-less.

"We can only lie to ourselves for so long. We are tired, we are scared. Denying it doesn't change the truth. Sooner or later we have to put aside our denial and face the world....Head on, guns blazing.
De Nile. It's not just a river in Egypt, it's a freakin' ocean! So, how do you keep from drowning in it?"

-Meredith Grey (Grey's Anatomy)

Did you ever have one of those days, weeks, or life when you find it increasingly difficult to focus on the issues at hand (family, work, money, health, relationships, etc.), and dream of being invisible?.....Nothing could see you, touch you, penetrate or hurt you? Let's face it, who doesn't prefer to get lost in fantasy rather than face the truth head on. Sometimes it's easier to run for cover, rather than fight the proverbial two-headed monster.

If we deny our problems, no matter how inflated, we are basically denying the truth. Smoke screens only make it all the more difficult to accept our situations and find resolutions. You can't fix what you won't admit is broken. The real questions you should be asking are, "What are my fears......and how can I bring stability back to my life?" How you feel and choose to handle the realities of your life can strongly influence what happens tomorrow, however slow the process.

During a recent visit to Ohio, my dad (a.k.a. Papa Bear),and I, were sitting at the kitchen table discussing acceptance, denial and *sublimation. You know, just your average dinner conversation......I invited him to contribute his thoughts to the Pink Crusader blog spot and he kindly agreed. So, this week I am proud to share some words of wisdom from my beloved father.

Papa Bear writes:
Josie, I have been reading all your posts and following with interest the various forms of sublimation (not denial for sure) you have been using to deal with the new reality of your life. Doing something positive for ourselves and others, when our soul is in pain, is the essence of the wisdom of the ages, and is the stuff that **Eros is made of. If you keep structuring your life with the right balance of dreams and reality, you will get excellent results.
- Saverio Caruso, M.D.

Personal Note: Thanks Dad! Not only are you my intellectual and spiritual advisor, but you remain one of the truly great Renaissance men. I know many people will benefit from your encouraging words. God Bless You!

*Sublimation is the transformation of unwanted impulses into something less harmful. When we are faced with the dissonance of uncomfortable thoughts, we create psychic energy. This has to go somewhere. Sublimation channels this energy away from destructive acts and into something that is socially acceptable and/or creatively effective. Sublimation is probably the most useful and constructive of the defense mechanisms as it takes the energy of something that is potentially harmful and turns it to doing something good and useful.
Source: www.google.com

**Throughout Greek mythology, there appear to be two sides to the conception of Eros; in the first, he is a primeval deity who embodies not only the force of erotic love but also the creative urge of ever-flowing nature. In the second version, Eros is the firstborn Light that is responsible for the coming into being and ordering of all things in the cosmos. Source: www.google.com

DAILY REMINDER: "Fund Free Mammograms"
Go to The Breast Cancer Site at http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/tpc/EEB_0115_BCSm
and help fund free mammograms for the homeless, working-poor, and un-insured women. It costs nothing to you, except one daily click on the pink "Fund Free Mammograms" button. You can even request automatic reminders via e-mail. Please make your free click now, and thanks for your continuing support! The Breast Cancer Site, One Union Square, 600 University Street, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 1-888-811-5271

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Free Massage Session for People Living with Cancer
March 21, 22, 23, 2007, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Houston Community College, by appointment only
Contact Deborah Kelly, Massage Therapy Program Director
713-718-7389 or deborah.kelly@hccs.edu

Rosebuds II Meeting
Thursday, March 22, 2007
5:45 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Pink Lemonade Guild Plate Painting
Pink Ribbons Project
Guild members and family only
Sunday, March 25, 3:00-5:00pm
PICNIK Restaurant, 1928 Bissonnet

"Brushes with Greatness"
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
teams up with Saks Fifth Avenue, April 12, 2007 6:30-8:30pm
Ticket Price $25.00* For more info: bsmp@mdanderson.org
(Guests will receive $25 gift card to be used for cosmetics)
*A percentage of sales will benefit the
Beth Sanders Moore Young Breast Cancer Survivor's Program
at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Susan's Rally Golf Tournament
in the fight against breast cancer
Monday, April 16 281-480-7744
3820 San Jacinto, Houston TX 77004
www.susanrally.org

Relay for Life of Cy Fair College
American Cancer Society Overnight Event
April 27 & 28, 2007, 7:00pm - 7:00am
www.acsevents.org/cyfair for info & registration

Breast Cancer: Its Effect on Spouses & Others
Saturday, April 28, 2007
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
The Beth Sanders Moore Young Breast Cancer Survivor's Program
www.mdanderson.org/youngbreastsurvivor
Email: bsmp@mdanderson.org

Susan's Rally
Sunday, April 29
For info: 713-526-2747
www.susanrally.org

The National Breast Cancer Coalition/Fund
2007 Annual Advocacy Training Conference(NBCC)
"Beyond Ribbons to Revolution"
April 28 - May 1, 2007
Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, VA
703-418-1234
Conference Contact: The Event Professionals
Email:nbccinfo@theeventpros.net 678-502-1454

The 2nd Annual Cancer Patient & Caregiver Conference
Friday, May 4, 2007. Registration:9:00am
Program begins at 9:30am-2:30pm.
Dr Michael Keating from MD Anderson will be the keynote speaker.
Location: United Way Building 50 Waugh Drive.
To Register: 713-520-9873 Contact Person: Elizabeth Wilson
www.cancercouseling.info

Relay For Life of Angelina County
American Cancer Society
May 4th & 5th, 2007
Lufkin Middle School

Relay For Life® is a fun-filled overnight event designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer in our community. At the event, we celebrate survivorship and raise money to help the American Cancer Society in its mission to save lives, help those who have been touched by cancer, and empower individuals to fight back.
http://www.acsevents.org/angelina/positivepinkdynamite

Walk to Empower
3-Mile walk, Sunday, May 13, 2007
MacGregor Park, Houston, Tx 9:00am
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
No Fee Register online at www.y-me.org

The Alice Thomsen Lymphedema Awareness Group of Houston
Meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at the American cancer Society Building,6301 Richmond (between Hillcroft and Fountainview) at 7:00pm. The 2007 dates are May 15th, July 17th, September 18 and November 20th.
For further information call 281-546-6438.

"The Faces behind Breast Cancer" Launch Party
Save the date, Sunday August 26, at 1:00 pm.
Details will be announced in future posts.

Living Fully
M.D. Anderson Annual Conference
September 6-8 2007
Marriott Westchase - Houston, Texas
Additional information is not available at this time.

Tour De Pink 2007
Pink Ribbons Project
September 9, 2007
at Prairie View A&M University
www.tourdepink.org
Additional info in future posts.

"Sharing is Caring"
Posts are updated every Sunday. As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your comments, stories, poems, and events. Please send your written contributions to thepinkcrusader1@aol.com.

"Self-acceptance comes from meeting life's challenges vigorously. Don't numb yourself to your trials and difficulties, nor build mental walls to exclude pain from your life. You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously. You will find peace not in denial, but in victory."

-J. Donald Walters

Until next week, stay strong, stay well, and keep on dancing in the real world!


Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com