REMISSION/CHEMO CURLS

 Hey Cancer Survivors, 

Remission. It sounds like the promised land. It's a goal you work towards. Getting back to reality is your number 1 priority. You have an army of friends and family behind you. They've supported you every step of the way. They're like cheerleaders cheering you on. Go Wild-Cats! It's time to get back to business. Pushing the pause button on life is over. You get to restart. You can be a whole new person if you want. Climbing a mountain of pain, and walking out of it on the other side to a finish line should earn you the chance to do a cliché Disney Prince victory dance when they get the girl in the end. It brings me to a line from Hannah Montana The Movie. It goes along the lines of:

;Life's a climb, but the view's great.'

Yeah, it's a sappy one liner, but it allows one to appreciate how much effort it is to cling onto life, and keep living it to the fullest. Yes, I used to do the things I enjoyed when I was going through treatment. The picnics in Spinney Hill Park. The walks. The brunches, the arts and crafts activities I did. We have to push against that voice in the back of our heads that says:

'You're not gonna make it.'

Well, that's a load of B.S. I sucked up the pain and dealt with it like a tough cookie. Having a second chance at life makes you grateful in ways you can't imagine. There'll be clashes and bumps in the road with people you love, but you have to be as cool as ice. You have to tune out the negativity. Get back to school/college/university. There'll be good and bad days just like in hospital, but you'll survive them if you give your voice a chance to shine on the catwalk of life. Don't hide in the shadows, and become background noise. You have to be the one to do those insane mic drops. 

I'm gonna give you some earth-shattering advice. Sit back, relax against those fluffy pillows, snuggle underneath those quilted blankets, wear your favourite pairs of loungewear/PJ's/hoodie's/T-Shirt's/joggers. Grab some Mini Cheddars. Listen loud, and crystal clear: 

'Don't wait for a second chance at life smack you in the face. Grab it by the horns. Turn all those dreams and ideas you had into a reality. Get back to being who you were before. It might not be a walk in the park, but you need to find that inner extrovert that's buried under all the layers of stone, and bring it to the surface.'

Turn the view of lie into something that's beautiful. You might come across as rude, obnoxious, borderline annoying, but get back to standing out of a crowd like a sore thumb. 

I'll leave you to absorb all of this useful advice, if you're on the steep uphill climb to remission. 

Chemo Curls:

Having long straight hair, to cutting it super short, to having bald patches on your head, then getting a homemade barbershop shave that makes your hair soft and fluffy, to the end product of having thick short curly hair, with a fringe. I'm not gonna sugar coat it, you'll look like a boy for a bit. It's not a huge set back. Coconut Oil and a bit of H2O (water) does the trick when an Asian granny combs your hair once a day. It's been quite a journey to get my hair to grow. Having a second chance at hair, means you can maintain it better so it doesn't go thin. 

Just don't listen to people who'll lecture you about how to keep your hair looking decent. Yeah, it's all luscious and thick now. Having people take a stab at your pride isn't what you need. You have to learn to build your confidence back up. Hair can do that to you. When you put your wild curly hair on a pillow it gets messy. Some people will give you this one liner that goes along the lines of: 

'You look like a zombie.'

It's a confidence bashing one liner, but appearance means everything once you're no longer Cancer Patient 101. You get to look, and feel normal again. You're not being pumped full of medication. Your head of hair has a fully functioning brain in it. No more clouded brain fog. Weaning off all your meds is the best thing ever. You get an awesome photographic memory back. Okay, I've wondered off topic here, but having a full head of hair gains you a ton of compliments from your family. If I were you I'd soak up all the attention. 

I'll leave you with a golden nugget of wisdom:

'Taking care of your hair is hard. Use a hair mask to make it healthier. Don't keep cutting it if you want it to grow long like Rapunzel from Tangled. Hair might be your identity, but it's only one part of who you are. Learn to use shampoo that makes your curls big and bouncy. I'd recommend using Cantu shampoo, and conditioner.'

I'll leave you to mull over this in your own time.

Enjoy.

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