The Power of One "Plus" and Creating the 10 to Thrive eBook



Click here for link: 10 to Thrive eBook 



According to the Livestrong Foundation, one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and three out of four families will provide caregiving to a loved one with cancer.[i] 

The Power of One+...

By Tambre Leighn, MA, CPC, ELI-MP (guest blogger)

One of the most common issues cancer survivors and caregivers face is isolation. Often you feel alone because cancer has changed your lives in so many ways you no longer relate to the one you were living before the experience.

The emotional journey of cancer is complex. Many survivors and caregivers avoid asking for help out of a desire to not burden others or equate asking for help as a sign of weakness.

The reality is no one gets through the experience of cancer on his or her own. It requires the support, cooperation and coordination of a relatively wide circle of people from treatment through into survivorship.

It requires.....

The power of one +.      We're in this together....and we can't do it alone.

As a caregiver, I learned this the hard way. So earlier this year when Nico Juber, one of the founders of Thrive/Survive Los Angeles (link: www.thrivesurvive.org) and I were discussing the huge impact cancer has for young adults in survivorship we created an idea for an eBook…and then we asked for help.

We reached out to the cancer community including medical professionals, health and wellness experts and founders of other cancer non-profits. Would they contribute a list of the top ten insights, resources and action steps in their area of expertise to help survivors take practical action steps to increase their quality of life?

Almost every invitation to contribute was accepted and it was only due to conflicting schedules that anyone took a pass. What does this say about people? This experience and other past evidence as well as the outcomes my clients have shared when they’ve learned to reach out for help is that people, in general, have a strong desire to make a difference for others.

Asking simply creates an invitation for them to choose, or not, whether they have the resources to assist. If I had attempted to undertake an eBook project of the size and scope of 10 to Thrive, it simply wouldn’t be in existence right now. Nico and I couldn’t pull together that much expertise in several life times to write on all ten areas. This project required a team approach.

The experience of co-creating the 10 to Thrive eBook with Nico and the long list of amazing contributing authors models the power of what can be done when you dig into your contacts list and then have the courage to invite people to help. If they can’t, they can’t. But that opens up the chance to ask them if they know anyone they can recommend. 



Tambre Leighn, MA, CPC, ELI-MP



Whether you’re writing an amazing eBook to help AYA cancer survivors, going through treatment, caring for a loved one or struggling with survivorship challenges, building a team makes a major difference in the journey and the outcome. We cannot know, do and be it all in life. To read more about building a team, check out Strength in Numbers (link: http://wellbeyondordinary.com/strength-in-numbers)

Meanwhile, if you or someone you know could benefit from a free copy of 10 to Thrive: a comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to life after cancer for young adults please go to www.thrivesurvive.org/10toThrive or pass this link on to someone you know is struggling. Completely free because we believe in…

The Power of One+!

For more insights, tips and resources go to:

http://www.WellBeyondOrdinary.com

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[i] Lance Armstrong Foundation Annual Report, 2004.

This blog post is part of the Resource Roundup series sponsored by Cancer Blog: Lots To Live For! in which the spotlight is shined on a resource that can help improve the journeys of cancer patients and caregivers. Past Resource Roundup stars have included the Annie Appleseed Project and Caring Bridge.

6 Tips To Prepare Healthy Holiday Foods

Brought to you from the Pink Kitchen, for breast cancer survivors and those who love them!


by Lisa Grey, Guest Blogger, Cancer Survivor and Thriver and Founder of the Pink Kitchen  

The holiday season brings with it many joys; and one of our favorite ways to share joy with our loved ones is through sharing food: parties, family meals, and sweets passed around at the office or the neighborhood.



I don’t mean to be a Grinch – but all of this momentary joy wreaks havoc on our bodies.



www.PinkKitchen.info



With Thanksgiving right around the corner - and all the culinary treats it brings – this may be the very last thing you want to hear. But hear me out, friends. I would never go so far as to suggest that you give up all holiday goodies. That would be setting you – and me! – up for failure. From time to time, we all want to indulge in a famous holiday cookie that takes us back to childhood, or perhaps a special dish that warms us on a chilly holiday evening.

But there are a few ways that we can ease the burden on our bodies. While you can’t control what other people serve, you do have some control over what you serve in your own home, or what you bring to someone else’s table. And there truly are ways to eat scrumptious foods that also happen to be healthy. Here are six tips to get you started.

• Fresh cranberry sauce is easier than you think. It also tastes much fresher, and has a vibrant, gorgeous color. Try the easy recipe below, and you may never go back to your old cranberry sauce!

• Use vegetarian broths to make gravy. Meat broths tend to be high in fat and calories. On the other hand, vegetable broths are low in calories and fat, but are still full of flavor. This brings us to our next tip.

• Use millet flour to thicken gravies and sauces. Millet flour is yellow in color. It is much healthier for you than all-purpose flour because it comes from a whole grain, providing nutrients such as . You can find millet flour in healthier grocery stores such as Whole Foods or online.


Rosemary Lemon Gravy on Turnip Mashed Potatoes

• Mash some turnips with your potatoes. Sound crazy? Be brave and give it a try. Turnips are very low in carbs. When blended with potatoes, you may not even taste them. But you are adding nutrition, as well as lowering calories.

• Give your sweet potatoes a healthy makeover. Put down those marshmallows. Sweet potatoes, as their name suggests, are naturally sweet. Just fill a casserole dish with chopped sweet potatoes. Then add cinnamon, coconut oil, and just a touch of maple syrup, agave syrup, or brown rice syrup.

• Substitute coconut oil for butter. We all know that butter clogs our arteries. But coconut oil promotes a healthy heart. There are two types of coconut oil. One is unrefined, which tastes like coconut. The other is naturally refined. Refined coconut oil, which has no flavor, can be used in place of butter in any of your savory dishes.

If you follow the tips above, you can satisfy your craving for a hearty holiday meal, while taking care of your body at the same time. If you think about it, that’s the best holiday gift you can give yourself. After all, the healthier you are, the more holidays you will likely be around to celebrate!

Easy Fresh Cranberry Sauce
(Serves approximately 8)
Ingredients:
1 bag fresh cranberries
2/3 c. pitted dates
1 orange, peeled
1 apple, cored and cut into quarters
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. allspice

Core the apple.
Peel the orange, removing seeds.
Place dates in food processor. Pulse until they start to break down.
Add the orange, apple, cranberries,and spices.
Blend until combined, but slightly chunky.
Enjoy!

Lisa Grey, founder of the Pink Kitchen, knows a thing or two about nutrition. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Lisa used nutritious foods and herbs to help her attack the disease. Her goal was to do whatever she could to destroy the cancer and keep it away.
Since then, Lisa has had a passion for sharing simple, quick, and delicious ways to eat nutritiously…not only for breast cancer survivors, but for anyone overwhelmed with the prospect of healthy eating. Out of this passion, Pink Kitchen was born.

To browse holiday gift ideas for cancer patients please visit Lots To Live For, Inc. at: http://www.lotstolivefor.com/category/cancer_gifts