My favorite color is usually orange. This month it is pink!
Like most of you, I have many dear friends who have battled breast cancer – some successfully, some not. Each time when I hear that a friend or family member has been diagnosed with breast cancer I am rendered incapacitated by sadness. No matter where I am, instantly, I find myself clutching my breasts. I am reminded that when I was a young girl, my Mom “discreetly” and in hushed tones, told me that my Aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. In those days the sisterhood supported those afflicted privately and rarely spoke of it in public.
Times have changed. We have asked for, rallied, raised money, and demanded the research and support we need to fight this cancer. We have a month that honors and promotes National Breast Cancer Awareness and successfully brings together the political, private and business sectors to talk about, raise money for, and support all those women who are battling and surviving.
Today, I am hearing a full on choir in my head that is singing, “halleluiah” as I read about all the walks, designers, department stores, athletic teams, and companies that are donating percentages of their sales to promote breast cancer awareness and research. It is extraordinary!
The other day on my bike, I passed a women riding in full pink regalia – including a Breast Cancer Awareness T-shirt and a bald wrapped head. We gave the “you go girl” nod to each other (I did, however, want to stop her and tell her to go to Holland Bicycles and get her helmet on to protect that beautiful head of hers as the future is bright and she has many more bike rides ahead of her).
I’m hoping that this successful message of hope and empowerment in the fight against breast cancer is someday extended to all aspects of women’s health and well being including dealing with the challenges and associated medical issues surrounding perimenopause and menopause.
Remember: Reaching out is In. Suffering in Silence is OUT!
Go girls!
