As 2015 comes
to a grinding halt I couldn’t be happier.
This had to be
the most challenging year of my life, from ongoing health issues, financial
stress and lost friendships. After being
diagnosed with the big “C” I put my life on hold in July which I wouldn’t
recommend anyone do. I declined more
surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and opted for some alternative
medicine. Unfortunately, my family does
not support me in this action and it saddens me. But, I feel it’s the right decision for me
and I try to live by the motto “To thine own self be true!” And, as queen Elizabeth would say “2015 is
not a year that I shall look back upon with undiluted pleasure.”
The solitude
has helped me discover what I’d like to do with the rest of my life. I’d like to become an advocate for senior
citizens. I never want them to go
through some of the nightmares I encountered.
I’m writing a book and borrowing the title “YANA – You Are Never Alone”
and dedicating it to them. YANA is a group
of senior police volunteers who call on housebound seniors Monday through
Friday. They knock on my door each
morning and say “Good morning Miss Carolan, how are you today? Do you need anything, etc? It was they who found me on the floor back
in February after laying there for 11hours because I slipped and fell on the
bathroom at midnight.
Later,
Oceanside Police Chief Frank McCoy told a reporter “how lucky the woman on
Golden Ridge Drive is to be alive.” I
didn’t know I had fractured my pelvis in two places and was bleeding
internally. Later, I made the evening
news on Channel 39.
Assisted living
is not what’s it’s cracked up to be and I have volumes to share with seniors,
caregivers, E/Rs, doctors, nurses, insurance companies, ambulance companies,
etc. I will have a list of questions for
seniors to answer according to their needs and lifestyles. It is to help them sort through all the red
tape and have a thorough understanding of their rights! Which I did not know…
Instead of
setting resolutions (which I break too easily) I am setting goals. I want to make some concrete plans with
guidelines on how to get there, what’s stopping me, and how I can get back on
track if need be. This may involve some
speaking engagements too. Journaling is
also at the top of my list which I encourage everyone to do. The therapeutic benefits from journaling are
immeasurable. I used to teach seminars
on Journaling and would welcome opportunities to do so again.
Whatever your
goals and dreams are treasure them because without them people can walk all
over you and you will never know your full potential. As Les Brown says “Shoot for the moon! Even if you miss… you will land among the
stars!
Happy New
Year! And may the force be with you!
