October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This month also marks two years since my grandmother’s passing. Nonni found a lump while in the shower and underwent a mastectomy at age 81. Here we are celebrating her 100th birthday several months before she slipped quietly away in her sleep, 19 cancer-free years later.
A quiet, self-possessed woman with an iron will, she faced life with a shrug of her shoulders and an “eh, wadda ya gonna do?”. This wasn’t giving up, not at all. Not one to wallow in self-pity, this was her rally to move on regardless of her circumstances. This empowering outlook is the theme of today’s Quick Coaching Tip of acceptance vs resignation.
And remember - early detection DOES save lives. Be sure to do a monthly self-exam and get screened yearly, especially if a close family member has been diagnosed. We can beat this thing!
The one thing we always have a choice in is our outlook. It can affect not only the quality of our days, but our whole lives. We can choose to accept “receive (something given) willingly” our current situation or we can resign ”give over, submit; give up, quit” ourselves to it. Over the course of a 100 year liftime that’s over 36,500 days!
When we chose acceptance, we give ourselves a footing, a point from which to move forward. We may not like what we currently have to face, but we don’t let it stop us. Whereas resignation is a slippery slope that leads nowhere.
The next time you’re faced with the choice of how to affect the quality of your day, remember my Nonni and ask yourself “eh, wadda YOU gonna do?”.
