It's Time to Toot Your Own Horn!

It's time to toot your own horn!  That's right ... TOOT YOUR OWN HORN!!!!  Don't wait for anybody to give you the kuddos you deserve during your healing process, whether it be from breast cancer or a stressful situation (such as divorce or breaking up with a significant other) or an emotional time (empty nest syndrome, adjusting to a new job, adjusting to living with boobs). 

This is the time to focus on YOU and YOUR WANTS and YOUR NEEDS.  That's right ... focus on YOU! 

I'm a grandmother of two grammar school childen, and I had to decide to focus my attention on me, my health, my goals, my happiness.  It's time for me to reap the benefits of what I have "planted" in my life. All the energy I have is focused on my happiness.

As part of this process I adjusted my monthy budget to include some perks:

• flowers (whether purchased at a store or delivered)
• a gardener
• a massage
• a dinner at an exquisite restaurant
• theatre tickets vs movies

Once a month, on the anniversary of my mastectomy date, I send me a unique floral arrangement ... the type of flowers I'd want to receive from that special guy.  Each time I look at the flowers, my spirits are lifted, especially on those days when I'm not quite "myself."

Food is part of my wellness routine. Organic/natural foods can be quite expensive, but remember that YOU ARE WORTH every penny.  I buy myself one food item that is both healthy and pleasant to the palate, i.e. scallops, exotic fruits, grass-fed ground buffalo (terrific burger), dark cocoa. I absolutely love looking for food in my refrigerator ... there's so many healthy treats and goodies.

Post mastectomy I focus now more on my eyes, hair and feet.  Every three months I schedule a makeover, complete with false eyelashes. I experiment with new, vibrant eye shadow colors.  It's important to me to have a happy-looking face with sparkly eyes and a friendly smile.



Tooting your own horn is very empowering.  You don't have to wait for the flowers, or a box of candy, a bottle of parfume, to be taken out to dinner or a spa treatment. I learned to nuture me, and who knows me better than me?  I spoil myself.  I treat myself special. I learned that life is full of many wonderful days, and it's up to me to make that happen.