Of course, I remember you from my years singing with Village Voices! I feel sad to hear about your friend with ovarian cancer – from what I’ve heard that is a particularly debilitating form of cancer. And at the same time, I’m appreciating that she has a friend like you, whose eyes are seeking new ways to continue to support her and her family.

I can’t stress enough how valuable a healing tool Carepages is. Most people would wonder whether it is worth doing, on top of everything else that needs to be handled, and my answer is “YES!” (plus it doesn’t take more than 5 minutes to set up, and then an email to invite friends and family to join).

I learned about Carepages from a friend who had a tumor on her thymus gland. Recovery from surgery was long and painful because the thymus is located behind your ribs (think open-heart surgery). She used Carepages to send out quick updates as to when she had the energy to receive calls and visitors and when she needed to rest. That is when I felt the power of the healing space that Carepages can create.

Hoping only the best for your friend,
Meenal

Love you,

Kelila

Thank for your support and highlighting the value of “communal owning”! That one observation, in the flood of “Thank you!” emails, comments, and phone calls that I received in response to this blog post, floored me. It has taken me this long to right myself to find words in reply.

So many sisters keep this part of their life experience hidden away in shame, and yet it is in the “communal owning” that we can support each other in healing. That owning can’t happen unless each of us are willing to say “Yes, you’re speaking my pain.” There is something so powerful at being able to look into another woman’s eyes and to simply see her compassion, her understanding, and her shared sorrow reflected there. Words aren’t necessary – healing happens. I’ve experienced this repeatedly for myself … most recently in the replies that I’ve received from so many of you.

Know that I am standing here … for each of you … with only compassion, understanding and shared sorrow shining forth from my eyes.

Meenal

It has been so many years since we taught that yoga class together, and I had no idea that you’ve still been following the twists and turns of my journey! As you can see, I’m heading down the yogic paths of self-reflection and self-discovery … and definitely celebrating what I’m learning along the way. This most recent discovery of energy, and how I feel or don’t feel it, has been transformative.

Please stay in touch and share my blog with others who may find comfort in knowing that they aren’t alone.

Meenal

Meenal

I could say the same about you, as your healing journey inspires me to persevere. You are the one who introduced me to Brene Brown’s TED talk on the Power of Vulnerability and how when a person shuts down her experience on one emotion (in my case, pain and anger), that it inadvertently affects her ability to experience other emotions as well. I never knew that in numbing myself to pain, I would also numb myself to aliveness and vibrancy, as well.

I am appreciating how I took that to heart, and that it is my willingness to share the range of my experiences, from messy and secret to confused and stuck to celebrating and wondrous, is validating the range of what I can now feel within me!

I hope that others who are stuck and confused about how to move forward can read this and know that it is WORTH taking that first step!

Meenal

And from the replies I’ve received, I am hopeful that my sharing will “encourage others to find ways to relieve their suffering.”

Meenal

I feel touched to know that my voice and message helped you in some small way.

Meenal