I have two stories for you. I was thinking which to post about but then thought, why not share both.

STORY ONE: JUDGEMENT DAY.

So I started doing a Cancer Council Meditation Class on Monday. I had been sent the information on it and thought it would be a good thing to give it a go. I have been so stressed with everything (Duh!) so figured it would be a good tool to have. Rachael said she wanted to do it with me for support (As we are able to bring family/friends along)… I love that girl.

So, anyway, we go in and, though this may not surprise you, I was the youngest patient by MILES… Most of the women in there would have been 25-40 years older than myself. There was one woman who would have been maybe a decade older and she kind of glued herself to Rach and I. She must have felt it too. It was really great talking to people going through a similar experience, though the majority had breast cancer.

As the class filled up, there were 18 of us in total, I noticed a small group of the women giving Rach and I dirty looks. I felt really uncomfortable. I couldn’t figure out for the life of me what the problem was. Neither of us were wearing anything particularly revealing, we weren’t being loud or over bearing, we barely even spoke really. The looks on their faces were absolutely full of disdain.

We did the meditation (Both Rach and I fell asleep, but we weren’t the only ones) and at the end the male instructor said “Leanne, Rachael, you haven’t meditated before, how did you find it?” … We began to talk about it. One woman looked over at me and said “It is a fantastic tool during chemo, have you done chemo?”… I mentioned how I was starting chemo in a couple of weeks.

All of a sudden, that small group of women looked at me completely differently. Their faces changed completely from bitterness to a smile from, well I guess an apologestic smile and then a smile of encouragement. It then occurred to me, this is a free course run by the Cancer Coucil for patients undergoing treatment. All these women had had their treatment but their looks changed the moment they realised I was “actually” a patient. I could tell they thought Rach and I were just there for a free class and had lied our way in. Given I was that much younger, they thought it impossible for someone like me to have cancer. Well they were very sheepish afterwards.

I’m not a freak case, I am still 30 which isn’t… well… 20! Oh well, here’s to my next class. Bless them, I’m not angry, I totally get it

STORY TWO: THE GREAT LESSON.

Don’t get me wrong here, I have two INSANELY great kids. They are beautiful… but like most other kids they are being brought up in a material world. They seem to want things without realising there is a value. Money comes from a bank, not from work. Now, I think to a degree, Kelly and I are somewhat to blame. They aren’t as spoilt as some kids, but they don’t fair too poorly. We’ve been trying to do a major sort out at home and both of them are TERRIBLE at letting their things go. My boy’s big toy box is overflowing with stuff he seldom uses (Not to mention the toy chest he has in his room) and the tubs, upon tubs, upon tubs of stuff my girl has is sickening. I want to donate some to op shops and some I will sell. Also, they then ask “Mum, Dad can we get this?”… Without thought of things remaining special for birthdays/Christmas.

Letting go of their things are so hard. So, yesterday I had the bright idea of taking them for a trip to the op shop for the first time. I wanted to show them where their goods end up and what happens to the money they make when the ladies/gentlemen sell them. I gave them each $3 and told them they could find things to purchase. My girl wondered what she could buy for $3… She was soon to be surprised.

They both went in and were astounded at what the shop had. My boy went straight over to the books, where as my girl went for the clothes. (She usually prefers books but this time she wanted to be different).

 My Girl’s Proud Purchase…

And My Boy’s…

In the end they both left with TWO items each and were so excited. My boy said to me “Daddy will be very proud of me Mum” and my girl said “I feel good helping people” … I’m glad. They were both more keen then to let go of their items. Hooray. I also found a set of 4 bowls that my Mum collects so bought them for her

Then once we got home, and the dust had settled my girl turns and says to me “I can’t wait to go back and buy more”

Oh well, can’t say I didn’t try!!!