This quote makes me smile. It’s simple and kind of silly but SO true. At the heart of it, it means do what makes you happy. Lord knows I listened to it this weekend… I ate plenty of desserts and drank all the O’Doules my little heart desired. As we go into the new week, let’s try to remember to live in the moment because we never know what tomorrow will bring.
I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend!
Lots of love & light,
Jessy
When I was growing up, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Thanksgiving. I was a picky eater. I focused on the fact that I didn’t like the food. If you don’t really like vegetables and you’re not into turkey, good old T-giving can be a tough day. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized what an incredible day it really is. I’m happy to say that now that I consider myself quite the foodie, I absolutely love all the delicious food I get to stuff my face with BUT I love even more to have a day that’s specifically dedicated to giving thanks. It’s a day focused on being grateful for all you have and to be with those you love and reflect on all that you have together.
Since being diagnosed, I have found true strength when I count my blessings. When I consciously think about all the things that I do have in life, no matter how hard the day, my mindset is always helped. It helps ground me and helps put things into a necessary perspective. So today in honor of this amazing day that is completely dedicated to being thankful, I am going to list out everything I feel so lucky to have in my life.
I am thankful for…
I hope you all have a beautiful day, and remember to truly give thanks to all that you have in your life. Even if you’re going through a tough time, try to think of at least one thing that you can feel true gratitude for — whether that is as important as another human being in your life or as simple as being able to have a glass of wine. Whatever it is you’re thankful for, be truly thankful, down to your core.
Happy Thanksgiving, loves!
Lots of love & light,
Jessy
I was walking to Starbucks this afternoon in this blistering cold weather that has fast come upon on us. Bundled up but enjoying a few minutes outside with the sun shining on my face. All of a sudden, I felt overwhelmingly nauseous. As I’ve learned quite well, it helps to just slow down my breathing and take a moment to calm down. Many times, that can subside the feeling and I can move on. Today however, while I was going through this somewhat common routine, I got a shot of annoyance run through my body. I’m sick of being sick, I thought. I’ve come so far from where I’ve been so when I really think about it, I am so blessed. But sometimes in the heat of the moment, I just want to feel fully healthy. My treatment dosage has been getting continuously upped the past few months as we work to get my counts to the lowest possible that I can handle. The point being is that the more chemo my body can handle, the more they want to give to increase my chances. TOTALLY get it. But TOTALLY sucks at the same time. Everytime I’m feeling relatively good, it means that my “counts” are normalizing which means we can increase the amount given which essentially knocks me down. Last week, they said they think we’re finally at a low enough level that they’re happy with. But I’ve definitely felt the difference. I’m more lethargic and achey than I have been in the recent months and the waves of nausea hit me whenever they please. And I’m just over feeling achey, or tired or nauseous or having a headache. I’m so anxious to feel “normal” again.
I don’t know what I wanted out of this blog post other than to get my frustrations out. It’s been 20+ months of treatment and not feeling well and I’d be lying to say I wasn’t more than ready to feel like a healthy individual again. Lucky for me, I know that day will come. Hopefully in 4 months and 1 day. (Yes, I have a countdown app. #SueMe)
As always, thanks for listening. Thanks for caring. Thanks for being there for me as I continue to walk down this road to regaining my strength and health. It means the world to have you all beside me.
Lots of love & light,
Jessy
Back to Motivational Monday. I’m sorry I’ve been a bit off the track lately but I’m back on.
I loved this quote. With all the new beginnings in my life right now, it really spoke to me. But what I also realize is that you don’t need big changes in your life to embrace this mantra. Every day we wake up and take a deep beautiful breath, we have been given the opportunity to do something spectacular. We’ve been given another chance to make ourselves happy. We’ve been given another opportunity to make someone else happy. We’ve been given another opportunity to make the world a better place.
Every day is another opportunity to take control of your life and embrace a new beginning, even if all that’s new is a new week. Embrace it, make it great.
Lots of love & light,
Jessy
It’s been over a week since I’ve written a blog post and that’s because I’ve been a busy busy lady…. Being a pup mom.
To be 100% honest, it’s a ton of work! I knew that it would be but it really is! Having this little fur baby is all-encompassing. It’s always keeping an eye on her. It’s taking her out to do “potty” every 30-45 minutes. It’s having a little rascal nip at your feet while you walk and jump on your back whiles you’re trying to do yoga. It’s hearing her sad sad cry when I put in her in the crate before leaving for work. It’s listening to her snore when we’re watching TV. It’s picking up her poop! It’s brushing her little teeth at night. It’s snuggling her on the couch. It’s getting puppy breath kisses every night before bed. It’s all the love I had ever wanted every time I wished for a dog. It’s OUR baby, our little rascal, our sass monster, our princess and she has already added so much additional love to our little family.
Beyond becoming a puppy momma, life has continued to move. I started my new job last Monday and one week in and I’m really happy, really excited and feeling really hopeful that this was the right career and life choice for me. I have SO much to learn! I literally have brilliant scientists around me each day that are working to find a cure for a deadly disease that currently has nothing. My job is to continue to raise awareness to the public about this awful disease and to in turn, help raise funds so that these men and women can have the ability to continue to do what needs to be done in order to find a treatment or cure. It’s a pretty cool job. It’s going to be a lot of work, but it’s good work. It’s work that needs to be done and I am beyond excited to be a part of it.
(This would be me dressing a business lady on the first day 😊)
As of right now, I am in my pajamas, Michael to my right and a passed out Phoebs in the middle. It’s a happy Sunday, it’s a happy time.
Lots of love & light,
Jessy
Yesterday, I packed up my HomeGoods Happy desk and walked out the TJX doors for the last time. When I got in the car, Roar by Katy Perry was playing on the radio and the moment almost didn’t feel real. I haven’t had the most ideal time since returning in January but I am still thankful for the years that I spent there as I learned a lot about marketing and even more about myself. Most importantly, I met some wonderful individuals. Some that I know our bonds will last far beyond the TJX walls.
I had just gotten “associate of the quarter” so lucky for my co-workers, my mug will be up in the cafe for a little bit longer in case they miss me. 👍🏼Mandy girl, give it a tap on water loops. 🖐🏼#missmyworkwifealready
SO, what’s next for me?! I’m really excited to say that I will be starting on Friday with the ALS TDI, a nonprofit in Cambridge that focuses solely on finding a cure for ALS. I will be continuing in the marketing field and (hopefully) bringing my digital expertise and ideas to the organization. I am so excited about this opportunity as my hope is that I can feel more passionate about my work and know that I am contributing to something that really matters. Hopefully, the work I do will help make a difference in people’s lives. It’s a BIG change from what I’ve done in the past but change is always a good thing and I have a feeling this is a good thing.
But before I begin with the new company, I get a three day pup-ternity. Yup, that’s right. Three blissful days as a stay-at-home-pup-mom. I’ve waited, literally, years for this little fur baby to come home so I can barely believe that she’s actually sitting on my lap as I write this post! Mike and I picked Miss Phoebe up Friday and it was one of the most exciting moments of my life. She already is bringing us so much joy and even more snuggles!
Is she not the cutest little thing in the world?
On my to-do list today was clean the house, organize my clothes, do some errands, workout, do yoga, get some paperwork done and play with Phoebe. Here’s what I checked off the list: played with Phoebe. I am writing this, still in my pajamas, snuggled on the couch with my little angel and so the fact that I got “nothing” done today is okay. You don’t get too many days like this and so I’m smiling thinking about the mommy and fur baby bonding day we got to have. With the risk of sounding self-indulgent, I’d say I deserve it.
Lastly, I want to say thank you to everybody who’s been so kind and supportive to me over the past (almost) 2 years. Being able to move on from TJX and also become a pup mom is a big step for me and I couldn’t have done it without the support I’ve felt from the many many incredible people in my life.
Lots of love, light & puppy kisses,
Jessy
Today is my second to last day at TJX. Tonight is my first night as a pup mommy. It’s a big day. One that I have waited for what feels like forever.
I took a walk in a wooded path near the office to get my thoughts together this morning. It’s November and it’s 70 degrees out and I’m in jeans and a tshirt at 730 in the morning, what are the chances?! I was listening to Florence & the Machines, and kept closing my eyes as I felt the sun beat down on my face. I felt lucky. As I was briskly walking out of the woods, I took a deep breath and had this outer body-like experience that I finally was coming out of the woods. I felt like I was watching myself closing the chapter on this time of my life. A beautiful, little bit selfish, crazy time in my life. In its own weird way, it was a wonderful time. It had lots of ups and downs and I focused on myself mostly. My career, my happiness, my needs. But now I feel like I’m ready to begin focusing on others more often- by having my work help others and by taking care of a living breathing thing that’s not me– it’s a Phoebe!!!! I came back down to earth and realized I still have today and Monday to get thru at TJX but I’ve made it. I’ve finally taken the step I’ve been wanting to take to change my life for the better.
This day is a gift. This time in my life is a gift. I am excited. I am nervous. I am grateful.
Thanks for always being here,
Jessy
The Inspiration Initiative 