#InternationalDayOfHappiness
March 20, 2016 has been designated #InternationalDayOfHappiness. There are events, material items and people who define happiness for individuals. I believe that most of society across continents and cultures seeks happiness. It is an elusive concept difficult to defined because it is an individual response to a number of external factors. Those factors might include one’s physical surroundings, current state of health, or individuals you are with.
I want to share one such day of happiness that I recently experienced and what defined happiness for me that day. It began with an invitation from friends to join in the Susan G. Komen breast cancer walk in our town. This same group of women invited me to go last year but I had to decline because I was days away from the second phase of my DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery. I remember fondly a group picture they texted to me before the walk last year letting me know I was “walking with them in spirit”.
Happiness: When you know someone is thinking of you in a positive way and gives you tangible evidence that they are thinking of you.
This year, when I received the invitation from these ladies again, I was very excited to be able to participate. My surgeries were behind me. I was in good health. I would be surrounded by a fun group of gals who got up ridiculously early on a Saturday morning to support a valuable cause, raising funds for breast cancer research.
Happiness: Spending time with friends in a healthy way to promote a good cause.
Komen walks are well organized since there are hundreds and often time thousands who participate in any one event. Survivors, like me, are given pink t-shirts while other participants are given white t-shirts. This allowed me to easily recognize other survivors and go up to them and smile, give thumbs up, shake a hand, or congratulate.
Happiness: Belonging to a group of individuals who have experienced and endured a similar and difficult situation and can now celebrate triumphantly with family and friends.
You are also given a piece of paper that can be pinned to your shirt that says, “I race in memory of” or “in celebration of”. I chose to “race in celebration of” DiepCJourney members.
Since opening my closed/private Facebook group less than a year ago, the membership has grown to over 350 members and more are added weekly. Members include women warriors who have been through the difficult decision to have breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Their stories, fears, concerns, strength and celebration after completing their reconstructive journey are who I walked for. I walked in honor of the plastic surgeons who are part of the members of DiepCJourney Facebook group who remain passionate about their profession and restore the lives of so many through their dedicated work.
Happiness: Celebrating the strength, grit, passion and successes of those friends I have made through social media connections and who inspire me daily to continue to advocate and educate about breast reconstruction after mastectomy.
When I returned home that day I received a phone call from a woman who was in our group. I didn’t know her well and we had only met one other time. That morning we had a brief conversation during the walk. I found out that she had been an oncology nurse and was very aware of what I and many on the walk had been through in our treatments. She seemed to have a heightened sense of the meaning behind the celebratory atmosphere of the walk that day.
Her phone call was to share some tickets to a fun event that evening that she had to back out of at the last minute. The event was sponsored by the local Rotary club. It was a sampling of gourmet food and drink from several local merchants at a beautiful outdoor setting. The tickets were expensive so I was very appreciative that she shared them. I thanked her for her generosity and for choosing me to be the fortunate recipient. Her comment, “This is your special day. You deserve to celebrate in every way so I thought of you when I couldn’t go”
Happiness: Feeling genuine warmth, compassion and generosity from an individual you hardly know.
What defines happiness for you? Was it an individual encounter with a kind, generous person? Was it a solitary moment surrounded by breathtaking beauty? Was it a feeling of good health and physical well-being?
What makes me happy is reading your positive posting and realizing all the disappointments my wife and I have had with the medical system have made us stronger. We live in an area where many services are unavailable and though it sounds like a form of giving up, this reality opens a door to supports that can be accomplished without massive organizational complexity.
Hi Scott. Thanks for the response! I am sorry to hear that you and your wife have experienced disappointments in the medical system. Location and availability of services can definitely impact care. It sounds like you’re working as a team to make the best you can of it. I wish you both continued support with minimal effort. When you are seeking good healthcare spending extra effort can be exhausting. Best of luck!