This afternoon, right after a warm summer rain, I came home. As I did something very simple and boring – went to collect my mail – I noticed a poppy flower within my flower bed, so gentle that it was struggling under the weight of small rain droplets on its delicate petals …I stopped in awe…As I stood there taking in this perfect afternoon that smelled like wet grass and rain, something occurred to me. This gentle miracle of Nature, this tiny poppy flower reminded me so much of a ballet tutu. It reminded me of my years in dancing school, our perfect hard-working bodies lost in the perimeter of endless mirrors; droplets of sweat on the floor and amazing pleasure on our faces. That told you everything – it did not matter how late it was; it did not matter to us how long we were dancing; the only thing that mattered was that inner desire to move and to express yourself in that movement. So, look at these pictures of my fragile “ballerina” and see if you can use your imagination and awe…

Someone said that there is nothing more beautiful than a woman who brushes her hair…But I really truly believe that there is: it’s a dancer; inspired by their inner energy, movement, soul, and essence…Movement can get you through anything in life, if you really think about it…

You can just take a deep breath and walk – walk away from something negative or walk towards something nice and warm, something hugging and loving, something caring and joyous.

You can put on your running shoes and start running – to the rhythm of your heart; to the calling of your soul; listening to each step and hoping for something challenging ahead.

You can roll up your jeans and take a walk, knee-deep in the water, toes diving into warm sand…Every step you take feels the warmth of the Earth; gives you support that you need as well as the calmness of someone who knows what lies ahead, someone who’s discovered inner wisdom…You take a look at the Ocean, listen to the waves, listen to your own breath and realize how unique every moment in life is; how your life is changing with every breath and every wave; and how calming it is to just gaze into the endlessness of the Ocean and hope that your life will be as infinite as the Ocean and the Horizon somewhere far far away…

Or you can simply dance…Painting with every stroke of your arms; clearing the air with every move; releasing the energy and remembering that at the end of this vigorous dance there is a moment of peace – and that is the moment you live for! That balance of energy and calmness; of movement and stillness; of storm and Zen…

Movement is life…Never give up! Never stop moving ahead! Never stop believing in something amazing, something new and intriguing, something challenging and exciting! Never give up! Never stop trying!

I am free from chemotherapy now for one full year and so far I do not need to go back for another set of treatments. I know it might not seem like much, but in my heart and in my mind it is a BIG victory over something so huge, that at times it just crushed me and raised doubts on how to deal with such a monster.

And I want to thank everyone – all of my dear friends – that were there for me “through thick and thin” and never let me believe that I might lose this fight for my life… I could’ve never come out a winner if it wasn’t for you… every single one of you, my dear friends, who deserve an enormous “Thank you!” for being there; for being so understanding and supportive; for going out with me when I had no eyelashes and no eyebrows; for offering your own bed – just to make me more comfortable; for treating me as a “normal” Human Being; and for loving me just for who I am.

Thank you, my dear friends, for all the encouraging words; for your continuous support; for your insistence on getting through to me – even when I did not want to talk to anyone or to hear from anyone. Of course, now I do understand that I did not want to be left alone, I really didn’t. I just did not know at times what to do and how to talk about that exhausting road to recovery; that long journey from diagnosis to freedom; that day-to-day battle - to get up, to take a shower, to dress and take another step, when every step echoes pain throughout your whole body.

That pain at times was such a strong entity that I would lose my belief that one day I can be pain –free. I did not know how to deal with it, but I learned and did my best along the way… And yes, I talked about it in my previous blog pieces, at times I felt like I was painting on the wall with water – I was trying to get my message out, but I wasn’t necessarily heard. Or I thought I was not. But yet – now I know – that I was heard, and I felt your support, my dear friends – every step of the way. Thank you for being there for me; thank you for being who you are; and thank you for finding love, kindness and care to share when I most needed it… even though I know that some of you were going through very difficult times yourself.

Yet, here we are – we came out of our battles and we came out Winners! Salute to that! Salute to every one of you! And Salute to everyone who continues to fight – day after day proving to us that it is possible, it is doable, and it is achievable. Thank you, my dear friends, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Dear Friends,
I would like to wish everyone a very happy New Year 2009! I know that year 2008 hasn’t been “all good”, but we all have blessings in our lives and we should try and concentrate on those. We should always try and retain an ability to enjoy every moment of our life! William Blake, an English poet and painter, wrote:

“To see a World in a grain of sand,
And a Heaven in a wild flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand,
An Eternity in an hour”

Enjoy the tickle of a morning sun and summer rain; enjoy the dance of the autumn leaves; enjoy every smile that ever shared with you; and remember every moment that inspires you! Sri Sathya Sai Baba, a South Indian Guru and Religious Leader, says:

“You have in your power to make your life on Earth a path of flowers,
Instead of a path of thorns”

Make the year 2009 the best year yet! Enjoy your family, enjoy your life, enjoy every second of it and live it to the fullest! Alfred Lord Tennyson, an English poet wrote:
“I am a part of all that I have met”

Live a life and give back, so everyone who you have met on your life path remembers you, remembers your kindness, your love, your ability to give and your thoughtfulness. From Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor:

“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be ONE”

Some of us had a tough year; some of us had a great joy of new tiny precious life. We all go through black and white stripes in life, and sometimes it so seems that “black” will never end. But listen to the wisdom of Hal Borland, American author:

“No winter lasts forever;
No spring skips its turn”

I know that all of us have wisdom within us to enjoy each day in life! Share love, laughter, kindness and joy. Lean on good friends when in need and don’t feel alone – someone will always be there to support you. Enjoy life! From Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Philosopher:

“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common”

Happy New Year 2009! All the best to you and your loved ones! Peace, love, laughter and joy!

I lost a friend today…I lost her to an old mean enemy of ours – cancer…

She was a fighter; she was a warrior until the very end. I will always remember her warm wet nose; her incredible smile; her welcoming greetings at the door…I will remember the feel of her golden hair; the loving licks; the demanding paw that will get you every time if Cinnamon did not feel she got enough love from you…I will remember our hikes and enjoyment on Cinnamon’s face when she got down and dirty in the mountain stream…I will always remember all of those things that made her so special, that made her my friend, that made her who she was… No matter how or when we lose our best friends their love lasts our lifetime… Dogs come into our live, leave paw prints all over our heart and take us places where we’ve never been before and give us unconditional love. These treasured memories of my dear friend keep me warm tonight and I know that she will always live in my heart. Where’s love – there is life! I’d like to believe that you will be with us forever, and I know - in our hearts you will be!

I hope, my dear Cinnamon, that you are in a better World and that you are at least loved and cared for like you were here, with us. And I know you will be – you are a very special soul…

Good night to you, my beloved friend; good night…

Look at this beautiful smile – unbelievable how this “old soul” kept us all of our hearts warm and made us all better people! Thank you, Cinnamon, my dear dear friend! Thank you!

Flowers are my passion… Every time I catch a glimpse of a flower – I am inspired...

Inspired not only to take a picture and share it with the rest of the World, but also to just stand there and look inside it's petals and wonder… It is an endless beauty that fascinates me; infinite opportunity for an ever-new design from Nature; and splashes of color… Flowers are my true passion!

Love empowers us to do amazing things…When you are in love, and loved in return, not only do you glow internally, but also the entire World around you seems better. At the same time you have that internal strength, the power to change the World around you. Love empowers us to do the great things and to share your soul, your heart, and your beliefs with everyone around you. So, when you are at your best, when you are at the highest point of your life, when you are in love – share, be kind, love others and make this World a little better and give people around you a gift of your smile!

We went to Luray caverns… It is just a magical and majestic place…There once was an ocean here many, many years ago and when the water drained away, Nature decided that it will leave something beautiful for us to see and remind us – this world is so precious… So, it built these amazing caves. As precipitation of different minerals started to collect, they formed rings at the ceiling of the cavern and slowly, slowly stalactites formed…They are like arrows pointing to the center of our beautiful Earth reminding us – this is our beginning and our end. As water drips down from the ceiling, it rises to meet a stalagmite that's been growing up from the floor trying to break out of the caverns to the endless sky. So, go and see this silent kingdom of stone: almost translucent drapes hanging from the ceiling; dry fish in the fish market; even sunny-side up eggs if you are hungry. And if you want food for your soul – listen to the Organ that was built in to one of the caves… You get absolutely mesmerized by the beauty of the underground lake surrounded by almost mystical statues, by the magnificence of Mother Nature and by the near silence with the sound only of drops of water hard at work…

Undeground Lake