Journal entry by Melissa Andersen —
I know it's been a while since I have posted anything here, but I thought I should share some important links!
Last January, I joined the iRise Above Breast Cancer Foundation's 12-week wellness program. It included women all over the country in their 30s and 40s who were going through the same things I was. Virtually, I participated in support groups, meditation and mindfulness practices, wellness sessions, and workouts. It helped me through the depression and anxiety I was experiencing, and it got me on track to get stronger.
I am grateful for the support of the women thrivers of the iRise Above Breast Cancer Foundation. I am honored to have been asked to share my story through their Portraits of Kintsugi campaign, and I want to share it with you. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of putting broken pieces back together using gold. It is a metaphor for healing and how our cracks can make us even more beautiful if we embrace them.
Click here to see what was posted on social media and shared through their email list: https://mailchi.mp/iriseabovefoundation/bcam2022-portraits-of-kintsugi-melissa-andersen?fbclid=IwAR1MzHyIq7Dx2uKDQJskWcYr0DFa1JtsVehT3ljC7SGaqDgm71EmwiNRVy0
Make sure to click on the "Booby Blog" link to read the full piece. https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/ithrivers/melissa-andersen
Last January, I joined the iRise Above Breast Cancer Foundation's 12-week wellness program. It included women all over the country in their 30s and 40s who were going through the same things I was. Virtually, I participated in support groups, meditation and mindfulness practices, wellness sessions, and workouts. It helped me through the depression and anxiety I was experiencing, and it got me on track to get stronger.
I am grateful for the support of the women thrivers of the iRise Above Breast Cancer Foundation. I am honored to have been asked to share my story through their Portraits of Kintsugi campaign, and I want to share it with you. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of putting broken pieces back together using gold. It is a metaphor for healing and how our cracks can make us even more beautiful if we embrace them.
Click here to see what was posted on social media and shared through their email list: https://mailchi.mp/iriseabovefoundation/bcam2022-portraits-of-kintsugi-melissa-andersen?fbclid=IwAR1MzHyIq7Dx2uKDQJskWcYr0DFa1JtsVehT3ljC7SGaqDgm71EmwiNRVy0
Make sure to click on the "Booby Blog" link to read the full piece. https://www.iriseabovefoundation.org/ithrivers/melissa-andersen
There are a couple of small details about the timeline of my cancer journey that got confused between my interview and the published piece, but they should be fixed soon. (iRise is a non-profit doing a lot with a team of volunteers, so things like that happen, and I know that from experience!)
You may even consider a donation to the iRise Above Breast Cancer Foundation this month, so they can continue to provide support and programs for women like me.
Thanks, everyone, for helping me thrive.
With love,
Mel
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