August Greetings!
I hope this month finds you well and enjoying the last hot gasps of Summer.
At the risk of being ridiculous, I am quoting myself in this
newsletter. Those of you who have read my books or heard me speak, will
recognize these often repeated words:
"We are all born into a swirl of life experiences - the horrible
to the beautiful and everything in between. No one knows what it is
like to inhabit our skin or look out at the world from behind our
eyes...but what we share in our humanity is this truth: all we know
when we wake up in the morning is that we have the day in front of us
to live."
Over the past 30 days, and in the coming months I have had and will
continue to have an amazing opportunity to live my own message. After experiencing
some vague symptoms of abdominal discomfort in early July, I had a
complete hysterectomy on July 28th, and have been diagnosed with Stage
3 Ovarian Cancer.
It is always a shock to hear such a diagnosis, and as a wellness
advocate and active participant in my health and well-being for more
than thirty years, I admit this turn of events has been a shock to me.
My plans for 2006 up until recently have revolved around my website
redesign and launch, and shooting a much planned and eagerly
anticipated video for marketing my goods and services. However, I've
long understood that anything can happen to anyone at any time, and
feel that the entirety of my life's journey has mysteriously prepared
me for the season ahead.
My doctors have assured me that I can beat this disease, and that
is my plan!
I will continue to live my life as normally as possible -
playing music, speaking, finishing my record, and working on my new
manuscript. The main difference will be the way I pace myself, and if
I've learned anything over the past weeks, it is that this is a season
for me to receive - to open my arms and heart to the love, support,
service and help of my friends and family.
So, in the coming months, my life and this newsletter will
continue to be about living.
- I look forward to monthly performances
with my beloved Acoustic Trio. Our August 18th performance at
Davis Kidd in the Green Hills Mall (7:00 ~ 9:00pm) will be especially sweet!
- I will be in the studio, working on The Music
of Life CD, which I fully intend to complete before Christmas.
- I
will continue to speak to groups on the topics of well-being, life
meaning and balance - the message of which has only been reinforced by
this experience.
I appreciate all the emails, letters, flowers, gifts, prayers and
good wishes that many of you have sent, and will continue to cherish
this overwhelming outpouring of support. The greatest gift you can give
me at this time is to listen closely to your own body and invest in
your daily health. Get the check-ups and screening tests your doctor
recommends in a timely manner...
And vibrantly live the day in front of
you!!
Ruth McGinnis
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