Perspective..keeping it simple

Lar is still doing well after his 4th chemo treatment.  His pump comes out today and he will get the white blood cell booster shot tomorrow.  He started on Claritin yesterday to help alleviate the side effects.  The normal side effects of the chemo were tolerable again this time.  Although, he had to pick something up from me today at work and he hadn't shaved his head in a couple days.  The little hair that was trying to grow back was softer and fuzzier.  One advantage of going bald by 20....when going through chemo you don't have to go through the pain of losing your hair.

Last night, I went to the Esperanza Spaulding concert with two good friends.  Not only does she have an amazing voice, she has a real talent for story telling.  I want to share one of the stories because it made me think....

Her and her 12 piece band are always trying to find new and different melodies, beats, rhythms, etc.  They will listen to new or popular artists on the tour bus and pick apart the best artist's songs to get inspired and create their own.  They were lucky enough to all go on a trip to the amazon- a trip of a lifetime.  She told us how they were in the rainforest and were silent for a second and that is when they discovered the best rhythms, beats, melodies, etc.  Nature provided them the best soundtrack to work from.  Not the multi-million dollar artist or songwriter but nature at it's most simplest form.

The last few weeks at work have been rough... I've been dealing with adolescents that have extreme emotional issues (far greater than your normal teen) and their parents who love them and want the best for them, even if they're not sure what the best is.  After one heart-wrenching meeting, I slowly walked back to my office, pondering the decision we had just made for one boy. I sat down at my desk in a fog and my cell phone beeped.  It was a text message from one of my nieces that simply said I love you. WOW! Those three little simple words brought me out of my fog and renewed me.  I powered on through my day.  Later that day, I checked my email and waiting in my inbox was an email from an old friend that has been through many hard times with me.  He was just checking in to say 'Hi' and to see how I was doing.  Another rejuvenation of the soul.  Simple yet meaningful.

On my way home from the concert, I was thinking about Esperanza's story and what it meant to me.  Her and her band were looking to grand artists and songwriters for inspiration, when really all they needed to do was slow down and listen to the nature around them.  All I needed on my rough day was a simple text with 3 words and a simple email to let me know that people were thinking of me.  I think too often, as a society, we feel we need GRAND gestures to prove our point or make our mark on this world.  To earn someone's love or to get ahead.  What I am saying is Keep it Simple!

From this point on I am going to make an effort to move forward with my brother's diagnosis in the most simplest way.  Take it day to day and celebrate victories (tolerating chemo) and not let the small setbacks (side effects of chemo) bring me down.  Once again, it's all about perspective.
KISS - keep it simple stupid!

Esperanza you Rock!

Photo cred to Jessblaze :)

Sox it to it Lar...