I can’t think of a better gift this holiday than health, happiness and the powers of Worry-X!

I am looking forward to the holiday season! Fires in the fireplace, family and friends gathering to spend time that is often overlooked or taken for granted throughout the year.

We recently spent Columbus Day weekend in the Adirondacks. We participated in the One Square Mile of Hope. It is a Susan G Komen fund raiser where paddlers gather on Fourth Lake in an attempt to break the world record for number of paddlers free floating together on a body of water and raise money for breast cancer.( I believe the final number was over 1900 and we took back the record from Pittsburgh Pa., and we raised a ton of money for a good cause) www.onesquaremileofhope.org

As we paddled out that morning skies were dark and rain from the night  had covered the boats and our equipment and really chilled us down to the bone. Jen was not the happiest of campers as were any of us. After all we had ordered a clear sunny day and we got a cold rainy one.

As we paddled our boats towards the forming crowd…rain battering our faces and hands cold, Jen and I looked at each other ….I said with a little get better smile…”It beats chemo or going for a transfusion.”

It was at that moment that Jen and I both realized what a beautiful day it was. Although skies were grey and the rain spit in our face as we paddled, we were together, with friends, healthy, and doing what we wanted to do.

It really wasn’t until Cancer that I realized how precious every day is. I look at a lot of things differently.

You see, when a person is battling cancer, you might plan on going to your friends birthday party, you might plan on going camping with your 6th grade class, you might plan on making it to opening night for next big movie hit, but the battle follows no schedule.

Its a call from the lab that counts are low and a transfusion is needed immediately…or,  the body’s ability to fight infection is so compromised that it isnt worth the risk to go out in public ….or, the body is so beat from treatment going anywhere is not an option.

Those plans come to a screeching hault.

So, when you are out in the hustle and bustle this holiday season, waiting in line at a crowded store, racing for the closest parking spot, running to get the last gift on the shelf, take a deep breath. Think about what you already have in your life. Hug your kids, hug your partner, hug your parents or grand parents. Think of how lucky you are to be out in that crowd doing what you have chosen to do!

From all of us at TEAM WORRY-X… Thank you all for your continued support! We wish you a safe and healthy Holiday Season and New Year!