Diet... And Cancer and life!!

As a former cancer survivor of 18years and a cancer suport nurse this is something that I have wanted to address for a long long time...."diet and cancer, or indeed any illness".

As someone who has spent my whole life watching what I eat, talking about what I eat, thinking about what I'm going to eat......where I'm going to eat and then eating too much, I'm well used to hearing about the word "diet". By now you may have gathered that I love food, and I enjoy the whole ritual of cooking for myself, my family, my friends...I'm a feeder you see!!

Now the food is important, but it's not all about that. sharing a meal with family or friends is a chance to get together and chat, share, laugh,cry and generally just get together.

Food dosen't fill empty stomachs. the ritual involved in sharing and eating together is a very powerful and healing experience. It feeds and nurtures, not only our stomachs but our souls as well.

Most of us grew up with grace before and after meals, something I often questioned the point of.

Maybe though we should take something from the age old ritual. the next time you sit down to eat, be mindful of who you are with, what you are about to do...how you feel afterwards, you maybe pleasently surprised.

And then you are hit by a cancer dignosis, a stressfull experience to say the least. And of course you want to do the very best you can to get well. and your friends and family want to do their best for you too.

Can I just say you're world has been turned upside down and you have alot to deal with. It's enough to deal with the unfamiliar world that sickness throws you into.

If you are being bombarded by life changing diet suggestions etc etc you have you're whole life to make these changes.

Right now there's alot going on for you.

When I was sick I was bombarded by endless suggestions of diets, prayers, healers , and "must do's" that for awhile I nearly drove myself mad trying to do everything.

A wise friend told me to cop on and I did, and here I am to tell the tale!!!.

I stopped trying to add anything new into my life and just took things one day at a time.

I'm still me and I still love good healthy food. I'll never be skinny because I love it too much. I do appreciate good ingredients and I try to have a balanced healthy diet. I don't beat myself if I eat a bag of chips or a bar of chocolate . Overall I try my best and that's as good as I can do for me.

So, if you are facing a diagnosis, or supporting someone, be mindful of not overstressing yourself or the person you love, with too may suggestions of life changing routines. You have you're whole life to make changes.For now just be, allow yourself to take one minute, one hour at a time and above all listen to your own voice and wake up and smell the coffee...or the tea mmmmmm I think it's time for my cuppa. The choice is ultimately your's.

Don't judge the person you see on the street who is overweight, how do you know what their struggle is. I'll admit I have been that judge at times even though I struggle with weight too. For that I am truly sorry. There is so much more to us than how we look. I have decided that naturally slim people dont appreciate being slim though!!!!

With much love , A happy, healthy and joyful Bernie xxxxxxxxxxxxxx