Category: cancer

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Fear Based Decision Making

Peace and Blessings to you,

There are numerous situations that can present themselves as crisis in our life. When the threat of crisis arrives, we have a tendency to start over-thinking, over-evaluating, playing the “what if” game and soliciting a lot of detrimental advice.

3 ways to recognize if fear is driving your decision:

  1. If your decision is based on fear of the unknown.
  2. If your decision is based on fear of judgment.
  3. If your decision is based on lack of resources.

All of those situations can be scary and difficult to navigate if you can’t find a way to get out of your own head and make a plan for clear, objective decision-making.

October 2015 was a really tough time for me. I was faced with the reality that my nice paying, great benefit having job was being eliminated. It couldn’t have come at a worse time because I was going through cancer treatments, I was exhausted from radiation and I could not think clearly. I had the options of either taking a separation package or applying for a new job in another part of the organization. I was too exhausted to put a resume together or even apply for another position. I made the choice to leave the company.  I figured this was God’s way of telling me that things needed to change in my life and that he had other plans for me. Several months into my choice, things went bad. I realized that I didn’t have a solid plan for how I would sustain my lifestyle and incorporate this new lifestyle of being a cancer survivor.

Because I made a huge choice during a time of crisis and failed to have a sustainable plan of survival; lack, doubt, self-criticism and fear-based thinking and decision-making crept in.

I’ll update you at a later time on how things have progressed in my life since then. That’s a whole different topic, but for now I want you to use the follow nugget when making major life decisions.

Own Your Choice.

You have to completely and unapologetically own your decisions. If that means asking for help, ask. If that means hiring help..hire some help! Do whatever you have to do to make a well-informed plan. You have one life to live and it’s not being lived in reverse. If things go south, course correct, think differently and make a different choice.

I love you for real.

Melissa

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Link to Donate

Sorry, there was an issue with the link in my last post. If you would like to donate, please use the link below:

https://secure.info-komen.org/site/STR?pg=informational&fr_id=5686&type=fr_informational&sid=5055&pc2_page=center

Peace and Wellness,

SuGa

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I’m A Survivor!

This year, I registered for the Komen Race for the Cure because I want to make an impact in the fight against breast cancer. I was diagnosed in April of this year and because of prayer, early detection, top notch treatment and a fabulous medical team, I am a Survivor!

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today in support of my fundraising efforts. Any amount is appreciated and no amount is too small.

You can donate online with your credit card by copying and pasting the link below into your web browser.

https://secure.info-komen.org/site/STR?pg=informational&fr_id=5686&type=fr_informational&sid=5055&pc2_page=center

Your support helps us get one step closer to a world without breast cancer. 75 percent of the money raised through the Race stays in the community to fund local breast cancer education, screening and treatment programs. The remaining 25 percent supports groundbreaking breast cancer research.

Together, we are fueling the best science, boldest community and biggest impact in the fight against breast cancer. And we will not stop until this disease is gone forever. That’s our promise. Will you please join me in this fight by making a donation today?

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Act Like You Know!

Colossians 2:6-7 NKJ “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”

This event did not catch you by surprise. You were made for this! Yes you oh child of God, you can handle it. I know for sure that you can handle it because as the scripture says, you were rooted  built up and then established in the faith! You’ve been taught how to survive extraordinary circumstances so go ahead and give God praise!

Are you asking yourself, what is the “this” that I was made for? If so, let’s define “this” as anything that sets itself up in your path to break your focus, hinder your purpose or delay your blessing.

Your prayers and frustrations have given you access to God’s delivering power in a whole new realm. Your prayers have  rooted you and your cries to God have built you up for this specific event at this particular moment. It is time to walk in confidence being assured that  your “this” will not take you out and it will work in your favor.

Circumstances come to test our faith but Jesus came to root us, build us and establish us in the faith.

I dare you to go ahead and thank God for the lesson and the blessing that your “this” sent your way!

Successful Moments thru Peaceful Empowerment,

SuGa Wellness Boutique

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And to Him who is Able to Keep Me from Falling

Jude 1:24 NIV To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy

Well, I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus from writing since my breast cancer diagnosis. I can honestly say that the past few months have been a heck of a roller coaster ride. I still remember the day clearly (04/22/2015) that I received the news. Although I cried and boo-hoo’d, I can’t say that the news was a complete surprise.

Women in my family have been known to live well into their 90s. I can remember growing up in a five generation family when I was a little girl. When I called “mama,” I would have about 7 loving faces looking in my direction to address my needs. Although the scope of my family has changed significantly, I can honestly say that I want a long, well-lived life. I prayed to God for longevity and I whole-heartedly believe that my early diagnosis with bc is an avenue that had to be traveled in order for me to get to that longevity destination. I’m so thankful that God knows my name, he knows the number of hairs on my head, he knows my thoughts and concerns and most importantly he is concerned about my feelings! (Praise God!)

In the last few months, I’ve had surgery, numerous tests performed and countless doctors appointments. I’ve met some really good people along this path that have held my hand and kept me grounded. My mom and my baby girl have been absolutely amazing in all of this.

To sum it all up: I’m just a women who is overjoyed by God’s love for me and I’m just thankful that God is faithful to fulfill his word in my life.

It takes me right back to SUGA ( Simply Understand God is Able) and I truly understand now more than ever that nothing is too hard for God.

Much Love,

SuGa

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God’s Hand of Blessing

Psalm 18:35 NIV You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great.

I’ve often referred to the Hand of God as my hand of protection. It wasn’t until reading a recent devotional from Pastor Joel Osteen that I began to meditate on the phrase “God’s Hand of Blessing.” I’ve witnessed countless interventions in which God has protected me from dangers seen and unseen but somehow my mind always connected those valiant acts of kindness as protection instead of blessings.

Several weeks ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and much to my delight, I was diagnosed in the very early stages of development (blessing). On April 8, 2015, I had planned to spend a fun-filled spring break day with my daughter but God had other plans for me (blessing). For several weeks I had experienced a constant nudging to have a mammogram performed (blessing). I’m so thankful that I obeyed the Lord’s instructions, which led me to the local mammogram mobile unit in my community and several follow-up appointments (blessing).

I’m ecstatic over these series of events because: 1. I didn’t have an authorized referral to get a mammogram, but God saw fit to give me favor with the nurses and they granted me access to what I needed. 2. Through numerous test and observations, it was concluded that the cancerous cells were confined to one location. 3. I was able to have genetics counseling which paved the way for my daughter and future grandchildren to be aware of any threats. and 4.I’ve learned the value of true friendship. I understand now more than ever why it is important to surround yourself with wise counsel. We all need friends to laugh with but we also need those friends that will cry with us, pray with us, encourage us and hold our hand as we take a walk of faith through a stormy season.

I’m so thankful for the many blessings that God has given me by simply waving his hand in my direction! To God be the Glory!

Peace and Blessings,

SuGa