.jpg)
There's a popular saying by a Shaman who was asked what is poison and he answered that anything beyond what we need is poison. It can be power, laziness, food, ego, ambition, vanity, fear or whatever. Hence, I ponder if my overindulgence is the main reason I underwent a life-threatening bout with cancer five years ago. The Shaman's philosoph laid a strong basis for me to manage my cancer. I didn't wait long after chemotherapy to embark on this journey. Thereafter, I went on a crusade to wash out whatever toxicity in my environment and lifestyles which I believe is the main cause cancer cells permeated and activated in my body.
First things first, no more rat chase for recognition and achievements including hunger for power, post and salary appraisal to amass more wealth. In fact I withdrew from some posts that I held in society, put a halt to all excessiveness and chose to indulge in various new ventures in moderation that brought joy and happiness in my inner self.
Exercise is so important therefore the first thing I did was taking up hill climbing once a week, scaling a hill nearby my house which measures only 204 meters high. I climbed moderately once a week, joining a few acquaintances but not to be perturbed by avid climbers who always shared their experiences and exploits, their upcoming programs to scale sky touching Everest Base Camp, ABC in Nepal, Kilimanjaro and even the G7 summits in our country. I suggest the best time to start is at 6.30 to 8.00 a.m. where fresh air and oxygen production is at its peak.
Meanwhile I started yoga, as upon extensive research I came to understand can help cancer patients both mentally and physically. Some studies have found that yoga might ease cancer-related fatique, improve sleep, help with recovery from cancer surgery and reduce depression, anxiety and distress.
To date, I've been an avid yoga practitioner once a week with the aim to create harmony with my mind, body, spirit and most importantly my cancer to help me feel calmer and cope better with stress, anxiety and depression.
To further boost reduction in anxiety and depression, reduced stress, greater energy and a decrease in chronic pain I started meditation. It's just suffice to find a quiet place to sit, clearing my mind of past struggle and future worries, focusing on the present for 1 minute to liberate my mind, body and soul. In doing meditation I often recite a verse or repeat a mantra and later talk to my cancer so as to create a harmony with the cells that's living in my body. I strongly believe that as I'm the host to the deadly cells I shouldn't treat it as an enemy but rather as a friend and my humble request to my 'friend' is to not 'stab me from my back.
In addition, I volunteer in a children's home and join a group to cook them meals twice a month, opened an archery club to identify and train young and handicapped kids. I fact joining Newswav as a content creator is also one of my best intervention as i'm able to offer people my experience and advice on managing cancer, and last but not least perform religious obligations at home and a few temples. With the blessings of His Almighty and also all those I have encountered in my outreach, I'm at the moment cancer-free and pray to God will continue so till my last breath. True to the saying of the Shaman, when we don't overindulge, our mind, body and soul will be liberated hence we continue living a healthy life. So let's all of us live in a moderate environment to continue living blissfully with our families, friends and society.
Submit content about #SpreadPositivity and stand a chance to win prizes worth up to RM13,000, including RM10,000 in cash bonuses! Find out how you can participate here.
Sandra Gesan is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.