Words For The Weekend (“There Goes a Fighter”, “It Will Be Sunny One Day”), Volume 28

This is the latest installment of quotes and words that move me for the weekend of 2/9/13 (Volume 28). I hope you enjoy them too.

As most of you know, Spot’s diagnosis came back as high-grade, large-cell, multi-centric lymphoma. We have opted to “get medieval on cancer’s ass” (see video below) with weekly chemo starting this Wednesday. I am immersing myself in canine cancer research and spending time with Spot, but I will try to put out the occasional update post and inspirational weekend quotes and music post. Oh, it turns out my sugar-free January experiment may have been good practice because we will be making some big changes to Spot’s diet and nutrition (in a nutshell, sugar is bad, bad, bad for cancer patients as it feeds the cancer cells). The good news is, fat is good for cancer dogs- and bacon is full of it AND it’s sugar-free!

If bad-language doesn’t offend you, check out this video clip from Pulp Fiction… HERE… we’re pretty far from okay, but we’re going to fight! (Link is not suitable for work or young ears due to language.)

~~~

“Until the referee rings the bell

Until both your eyes start to swell

Until the crowd goes home

What we gonna do y’all?

Give ‘em hell, turn their heads

Gonna live life til we’re dead.

Give me scars, give me pain

Then they’ll say to me, say to me, say to me

There goes a fighter, there goes a fighter

Here comes a fighter

That’s what they’ll say to me, say to me

Say to me, this one’s a fighter…”

~ Gym Class Heroes, “The Fighter”, on album “The Papercut Chronicles II“, video link HERE.

Alternate song: “Move Along” performed by All American Rejects from “Move Along“, video link HERE

“Go ahead as you waste your days with thinking

When you fall everyone stands

Another day and you’ve had your fill of sinking

With the life held in your

Hands are shaking cold

These hands are meant to hold

Speak to me, when all you got to keep is strong

Move along, move along like I know you do

And even when your hope is gone

Move along, move along just to make it through

Move along

Move along…

When everything is wrong, we move along

(Go on, go on, go on, go on)

When everything is wrong, we move along

Along, along, along…”

“So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I’m still trying to figure out how that could be.” ~ Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

April 10, 2006

Dear Crystal,

I’m so sorry to hear that life is getting you down at the moment. Goodness knows, it can be so tough when nothing seems to fit and little seems to be fulfilling. I’m not sure there’s any specific advice I can give that will help bring life back its savour. Although they mean well, it’s sometimes quite galling to be reminded how much people love you when you don’t love yourself that much.

I’ve found that it’s of some help to think of one’s moods and feelings about the world as being similar to weather:

Here are some obvious things about the weather:

It’s real.
You can’t change it by wishing it away.
If it’s dark and rainy it really is dark and rainy and you can’t alter it.
It might be dark and rainy for two weeks in a row.

BUT

It will be sunny one day.
It isn’t under one’s control as to when the sun comes out, but come out it will.
One day.

It really is the same with one’s moods, I think. The wrong approach is to believe that they are illusions. They are real. Depression, anxiety, listlessness – these are as real as the weather – AND EQUALLY NOT UNDER ONE’S CONTROL. Not one’s fault.

BUT

They will pass: they really will.

In the same way that one has to accept the weather, so one has to accept how one feels about life sometimes. “Today’s a crap day,” is a perfectly realistic approach. It’s all about finding a kind of mental umbrella. “Hey-ho, it’s raining inside: it isn’t my fault and there’s nothing I can do about it, but sit it out. But the sun may well come out tomorrow and when it does, I shall take full advantage.”

I don’t know if any of that is of any use: it may not seem it, and if so, I’m sorry. I just thought I’d drop you a line to wish you well in your search to find a little more pleasure and purpose in life.

Very best wishes

(Signed)

Stephen Fry

From site: Letters of Note

“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” ~ Maya Angelou

“What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again.” ~ Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

“The world is indeed full of peril and in it there are many dark places. But still there is much that is fair. And though in all lands, love is now mingled with grief, it still grows, perhaps, the greater.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

“All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi, The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” ~ Neil Gaiman, Coraline

“Sometimes I go about pitying myself
And all the while
I am being carried across the sky
By beautiful clouds” ~ Ojibway Expression

“Instead of feeling bad
Be glad you got somewhere to go
Instead of feeling sad
Be happy you’re not all alone
Instead of feeling low
Get high on everything you love
Instead of wastin’ time
Feel good ’bout what you are dreaming of…

Instead of feelin’ broke
Buck up and get yourself in the black
Instead of losing hope
Touch up the things that feel out of whack
Instead of being old
Be young because you know you are
Instead of feeling cold
Let sunshine into your heart…”

~ Madeleine Peyroux, “Instead” from album “Bare Bones“, VIDEO

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” ~ Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Road to Daybreak: A Spiritual Journey

HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS-

BY EMILY DICKINSON

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops – at all -

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet – never – in Extremity,

It asked a crumb – of me.

Emily Dickinson, “‘Hope’ is the Thing with Feathers” from The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson

~~~

20 Responses to Words For The Weekend (“There Goes a Fighter”, “It Will Be Sunny One Day”), Volume 28

byebyebeer | February 11, 2013 at 7:57 am | Reply

This post is getting bookmarked. It amazes (but does not surprise) me that you’re providing us with comfort during this difficult time.

The one that especially touched me is the letter from Stephen Fry. I think I remember seeing that one in Letters of Note awhile back, but it means more now. How true that feelings are like weather. They always change, but this doesn’t make them any less real than a rainy day. (And how true too that sometimes a rainy day really gets me down and other times doesn’t bother me at all.)

Just a lot of brilliant stuff in here. Thank you for sharing it and I hope it brings you comfort too. Also interesting that sugar feeds cancer cells. Spot is lucky to have such an attentive and caring human
- runningonsober | February 12, 2013 at 11:47 am | Reply
  
  Thank you bbb, that’s really sweet. xoxo
  I’ve loved that Fry letter for a while too, I don’t remember when I first saw it. I think that’s where I got my saying, “today is a crap day.” lol. It’s a favorite letter, for certain.
  And these do indeed bring me comfort–I’m happy if I can share it with others. I love the songs especially this week!
Pleasant Street | February 11, 2013 at 8:22 am | Reply

It is the worry, the fear, the helplessness. Combine with love and you have a recipe for quicksand. So we continue on, alert and prayerful.
- runningonsober | February 12, 2013 at 11:50 am | Reply
  
  When all you got to keep is strong, move along, move along like I know you do… Even when all hope is gone, move along, move along just to make it through… Definitely watching out for the quicksand along the way!
October O Nine | February 11, 2013 at 9:28 pm | Reply

These are all so beautiful and meaning and you know what? So are you!!! Bless you for taking the time to share these with us. I think you are so brave and I’m so glad you are educating yourself on cannine cancer and going “medieval” on Spot’s cancer. She is blessed to have you as a mommy. Please make sure you do something for yourself, something nice or something that feeds your soul at least once a day to help you keep your health and strength for this fight. I believe you guys are going to beat the odds. I really believe it! xoxox
- runningonsober | February 12, 2013 at 11:54 am | Reply
  
  I really hope you’re right sweetie; the long term odds are slim to none, but I keep reminding myself that the long term odds for ALL of us are slim to none eventually… We just have to make the most of it while we are all here. She is such a light in my life, I’m just not ready for it to go out so soon. Love you my friend. xoxo
Al K Hall | February 12, 2013 at 3:49 am | Reply

Get up! Stand up! Stand up for you Life!

Thanks for the wise words, my friend.
- runningonsober | February 12, 2013 at 11:55 am | Reply
  
  Love the Bob Marley reference! “Don’t give up the fight!”
  Thanks for the nice comment, my friend.
Nicole Marie | February 12, 2013 at 12:23 pm | Reply

More beautiful, inspiring lyrics and poetry. Wishing you and yours nothing but the best. Keeping my fingers crossed for Spot <3
- runningonsober | February 12, 2013 at 4:06 pm | Reply
  
  Thanks, Nicole. <3
carrythemessage | February 12, 2013 at 9:13 pm | Reply

This was timed so perfectly for me, I think. I have been isolating and undermining myself in some ways and these things you posted helped to lift me up a bit. I love the St. Francis line (he’s becoming a bit of a “hero” to me the more I read about him and his work) and I too enjoyed the Fry letter – it was brilliant, like all the stuff he’s involved with.

Thanks for this, really.

And I hope doggy woggy is doing better
Paul
- runningonsober | March 1, 2013 at 11:40 am | Reply
  
  Hey Paul, sorry for the late response. I’ve obviously been isolating too lately. Not the best coping mechanism, but we gotta do what we gotta do sometimes. I’m glad you enjoyed the piece. I love St. Francis too.
  
  Spot’s hanging… she’s had a rough couple of weeks, but is running around like a puppy right now.
michelle | February 12, 2013 at 10:41 pm | Reply

Great selection, but I’ll suggest my favourite: some lyrics from the song ‘The Boxer’ by Simon and Garfunkle.

My Dad loved it too
- carrythemessage | February 13, 2013 at 3:17 pm | Reply
  
  I have been obsessed with this song the last two weeks – thanks for putting this in, Michelle!
- runningonsober | March 1, 2013 at 11:50 am | Reply
  
  That’s a wonderful song Michelle, thank you!
  
  I actually remember when Lee DeWyze sang this on American Idol. Kind of a raspier edge to it than the original.
  My favorite stanza:
  
  In the clearing stands a boxer,
  And a fighter by his trade
  And he carries the reminders
  Of ev’ry glove that laid him down
  And cut him till he cried out
  In his anger and his shame,
  “I am leaving, I am leaving.”
  But the fighter still remains…
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- runningonsober | March 1, 2013 at 11:38 am | Reply
  
  Thank you so much Julie, I really appreciate you thinking of me!
Imogen | February 25, 2013 at 8:30 pm | Reply

Hey lovely RoS, thinking of you. How are you getting on? xo
- runningonsober | March 1, 2013 at 11:37 am | Reply
  
  Hey Imo, I’m hanging in there my dear. Last couple of weeks have sucked, but the past couple of days have been “sunnier”. Hope you are doing well, I’ll put out an update by the end of the weekend. xoxo
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