What really is healing?

My pastor asked me recently to speak during a service. I was honored especially because the topic was right up my alley - healing. Here’s what I said:

Healing has been on my mind a lot lately and I can absolutely relate to this. Healing means a lot of things to me. Two years ago, I was afraid and devastated to hear my cancer diagnosis. I had 6 rounds of chemotherapy over 4 months. At that time, healing meant physical pain and extreme exhaustion to beat the cancer. I wasn’t able to eat due to nausea. Even walking to the mailbox took a lot of effort. I lost my hair and my skin was dry and pale. It was a scary time. My oncologist told me to follow a strict protocol and I could be cured. To be honest, it was kind of easy to just focus on one specific thing. Healing physically with a common goal to beat cancer. Nothing else mattered - just fight for my life! But I started feeling healed in other ways. I felt healed emotionally through my family’s support. They cooked meals, did laundry, held my hand while I was nauseous, cleaned the house and even took kids to their doctor appointments. My friends set up a meal chain which was a life saver. Holy Spirit Church even provided me comfort through phone calls, prayers and special handmade cards. All this support and focus healed me and my cancer. I’m in remission for about 2 years.

Now that I’m done. The healing is more complex and sometimes harder. It means physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing. Tackling all of these at once can be just as exhausting. The after battle of beating cancer is a daily fight to heal. It’s interesting how focusing one thing can be so simple. But then when you’re out of the crisis and returning back to a “normal” it’s even harder. You expect everything goes back to the way it was. Your body, your work, your lifestyle. But I’ve changed a lot. And my outlook has become do whatever I can to stay healthy and healed.

Every day, I try to do one thing from each type of healing to keep me feeling fulfilled.  Yoga gives me mental fuel. The slow stretching and meditation allows me to relax. Walking gives me physical fuel, energy and clarity throughout the day. Writing or socializing gives me emotional fuel. I can let out all of my concerns in a journal or escape when spending time with friends. Coming to church and listening to music gives me spiritual fuel. It gives me a sanctuary and feel love around me. Filling up my cup every day with these things heals me to find my true self. And knowing that I’m getting there is all worth it.

During my treatment, I listened to a meditation that included a mantra to speak repeatedly:

“I am healthy. I am strong. I am healing.”

It got me through the anxiety then and gives me assurance now. I’ve learned that I am strong and that most people are good in this world. Unfortunately, I meet too many people lately who had cancer or navigating their cancer journey currently. I’m part of a community. And this community is filled with kindness and healing. You don’t have to go through healing alone. You can find it everywhere in your life. I’m thankful for this community every day. I’m thankful to be here every day.