These questions cannot be answered, they can only be experienced.

Recently, at my yearly follow up with my oncologist...

I was very sad to be sitting in the oncology waiting room again.  I watch a new patient come in, obvious it is her first day, she is very nervous, her mind wandering while she spoke to someone over the phone; it reminded me of my first day.  The uncertainty of what will happen behind ‘those’ doors.  How will I feel afterwards?  Can I eat lunch afterwards?  Can I go back to work today?  Will I vomit?  When will my hair fall out? and How will I look bald?  Will this treatment work?  Will the cancer come back?  

Unfortunately, these questions cannot be answered, they can only be experienced.

I wanted to sit and chat with her and hear her thoughts about this nightmare she was stepping into, then the nurse called my name.  I gave the women my card with a note in hopes that she would like to have a nice survivor to survivor chat :)  I am hoping that she will call me, if just to only say hello.

Why I am so passionate about wellness?  Because I want to thrive in life and teach others how to thrive as well!  Being a mindful Being in all that we do makes a difference in our lives.  How do we eat?  What do we eat?  Is this food nourishing our bodies or is it hindering our healing?  How do we think?  Is the glass half full or half empty?  What we eat and how we think is who we become!  Positive and Smiling = Happy and Healthy.  Negative and Sour = Sad and Unhealthy.  

The more I read and learned about healing and how our bodies work, the more I understood how food and mood play a huge roll in healing.  Think about this, Where do vitamins and minerals come from?  Do they come from the same place milk comes from but on a different aisle?  NO!  Vital, life supporting vitamins and minerals come from fruits and vegetables, not from synthetic pills made in a laboratory and not from cows, chickens and potatoes!  

Americans have the worst diet in the world!  Our diets are so horrible we lead the world in lifestyle created illnesses.  Impressive coming from the #1 free country in the world.  For some reason other countries are now allowing our bad food habits into their countries, introducing our lifestyle diseases: Diabetes, Obesity, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Arthritis, Migraines, Gout, the list goes on and on.  All of these illnesses are created by the choices we make.  Yes, there are some exceptions to the rule like Type 1 Diabetes and High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol can be hereditary.  But, just because you have it doesn’t mean you should chalk it up as incurable, take a pill every day and continue to eat in a unhealthy way.   

Our bodies are amazing machines and given a chance can show you how amazing they can be.  We need to start asking ourselves this one question: Why are we allowing ourselves to get to such a horrible state of being?  Is life that hectic that we can’t cook a meal that doesn’t come in a box or a bag and cooked in a microwave?  There are so many ways to bring in fresh vegetables into a meal that takes the same amount of time!  Meals that give our bodies the nutrients we need to thrive and be healthy!

Believe me when I tell you that I use to have this same mentality.  I didn’t know what to do with radishes or broccoli and God knows I had no idea what kohlrabi or parsnips were (they are fabulous:).  I have been on my journey to health since 2006 and my motto is: Everyday is a new day to begin again.  So when my weakness for cupcakes come sneaking into my brain, sometimes I let it take over and lead me to the cupcakes!  We have a gluten-free bakery two blocks from my office :/  Argh!   I finally squelch the almost daily obsession and now I only go there every few months and get a small little treat.  I had to tell myself that even though it is gluten-free it is not sugar-free.  

If you know someone who has or had cancer, please pass them my information, I would like the opportunity to talk with them.  I still have vivid memories of my cancer days and work very hard each day to never go back to that state of illness, both mental and physical.  If you would like to know more about how you can improve your health in a positive way, give me as call and let's chat. 

I'm sure you've heard this before; Life is not a dress rehearsal.  Some know the true meaning of this while others can only sympathize.

Be well. 

Renee' Peregory is a wellness coach and owner of Nu-Me Wellness in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria. 

2201 Mt. Vernon Avenue

571-212-5761

NuMeWellness@gmail.com