Word of Year Revisited. 49/51. #LifeThisWeek. 129/2021.
Before going on, it was my husband’s words, on a birthday card envelope that reminded me to smile.
I then considered he was right …(I should tell him as he thinks I rarely admit he is right)….I also know that my upper prosthesis makes my smile the nicest one I have ever had. For those who may be new here, I had all of my upper mouth and part of my top lip removed in July 2017 when cancer was found. The whole story is here.
From my post in January 2021 about the word of the year.
Why “SMILE”?
- A smile is a valuable form of communication and connection.
- I know for some people smiles can be hard to manage depending on the time and circumstances and not everyone is a ‘smiler’. That is what makes the world go round, we are all different.
- I too do not like being told “smile!!”. Umm. No, unless I have the emotions that warrant a smile, I may be able to slightly fake it but truly I prefer the genuine smile.
- I know there are many more muscles used in the face to frown and far fewer to smile and that can be a suggestion as a mood lifter.
- In fact, the old adage of ‘fake it till you make it’ can work as a psychological tool at times. Try it.
How Did Smile ‘as a word of the year’ Help Me?
- I know it made me ‘smile’ when I thought about the word, and knowing I needed to act it. And as it says above, it works!
- Nevertheless, there were non-smiling times in 2021 because things turned tough, and lockdown was not something I enjoyed 100% every day!
- However, not smiling did not help at all, so it was within my best interests not only to FIND reasons to smile but for my health’s sake…and that of the man I live with…it was better to smile, than frown…most of the time!
- It made me find small things to be grateful for and to reminisce about happier and fun times with grandkids to bring that smile back
- I know getting out into nature, and doing a selfie or 4 reminded me to smile and be grateful to be vaccinated for Covid19 and well.
My Mouth Looks Better with a Smile.
- It really does.
- At rest, my mouth shows the rigours and remains of the loss of so much of my top lip and that the area has receded.
- However, it can hurt a bit to smile because it is stretching the mouth that was reconstructed over the years 2017 into 2018.
Did I Always Smile?
Mostly, but there are, for reasons of me not liking how I looked then, fewer photos. What a shame, because now I realise I was trying to hide what I felt ashamed of…my size and my smile. My teeth, before the bridge was added were uneven. Now, I say to myself that “I” need to let go of those old stories. I did what I could as I lived a very challenging and full life of work, career, study, care and commitment.
-
- 2013.
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- 2016,1967, 2000, 2014
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- 2014
How Did My Smile Come Back?
Surgeries x 4, T I M E in between, careful work by my prosthodontist (right) over many, many long hours for me ‘in the chair’ at Westmead Oral Sciences…and an upper prosthesis of teeth that IS my smile now, some 14 months post first big surgery aged 67.
And My Smile Is From Mum!
It’s the saying in our family that Mum could turn on a smile. And she did. However, she was not always happy but looked like it when the cameras where out. Seriously though, Mum had all her teeth (as does Dad still)…I got the rotten teeth gene there. And she smiled. Here’s a compilation from the photo collage I made for Dad that he has in his Unit.
Mum’s smile for me….72 years ago.
Some Familiar Smiles
…and yes, some are more like my Mum’s but ALL are smiles from those I love….
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- With my daughter’s kids 2019
Happy Birthday Mum…born 6 December 1924. You’d have joined Dad as a 97 year old today…the day I post this but you are not, and to be honest, you’d have found very old age…hard yards. Love this photo- from a family dinner celebration.
Noreen’s Smile
Did you have a word of the year too?
I am not sure about next year.
As per usual I will wait….
Thanks for reading and commenting today.
Denyse.
Link Up #269.
Life This Week. #269.
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Series Of All Stories is found
Taking Stock.#5. 48/51. #LifeThisWeek. 128/2021.
Taking Stock.#5. 48/51. #LifeThisWeek. 128/2021.
This is the last taking stock in 2021 and may not be another when in 2022.
So, as this could be the “last one” I am going to share here about my life as it is on the eve of my 72nd birthday.
And as Pema Chodron says here…..
I am grateful for all who have made a difference in my life. Not all people are represented here because I may not have had an image. So, here goes, using images to ‘match’ a word. And using my alphabetical list.
Admiring: those people who are the trained professionals in all allied health, surgery and more, and have cared for my health.
Becoming: a part of a family, grateful for the love, care and kindness of parents and grandparents since 1949!
Curious: about life and learning….always!
Delighted: to meet up with on-line friends when I can.
Excited: that we will get to celebrate my birthday…..out for morning tea! It suits us both to do this…here’s a memory from 2018. If the rain stays away we will be going here again: a local nursery.
Feeling: that time is moving way too fast….that seems to happen after 70!
Going: to my Dad’s sometime in December to share some meals and treats. He’s certainly been the constant in my life…known me for more than 72 years!! This from my 71st birthday when I am not sure who was helping who stay on their feet.
Helping: Head and Neck Cancer Australia as an Ambassador. I have held this volunteer role for 3 years and as I said to the CEO recently, “you got me for life“.
Imploring: people to keep an eye on anything (related to Head and Neck cancer* symptoms) that might be not healing or increasing in pain. size and so on…and ensuring if a GP or dentist, doesn’t take it seriously, to seek out another option. *all cancers of course, but these ones have no diagnostic tools.
Joking: No idea what was funny at Oxley lookout last year but this bloke is quite the joker….and this wife, is not always ready for his sense of humour!
Keeping: this blog going into its 12th year is testament to my commitment but to the engagement of this blogging community even more!
Loving: the freedom of days’ activities choice when retired. Sure, there is a routine of sorts, and yes, we get up by a certain time (not tellin’) …but no bosses!
Making: memories for me and others! By cards, photos and little albums. I love doing it too.
Next: I am too easily wanting to plan what is next yet, at the same time trying to stay in the present. The one thing for me is knowing where we will be living next year, and so far, the owners have agreed to us staying on. HOWEVER, the way real estate prices have risen here, houses in our street up by $200-300K in less than 4 years, we suspect we will get a rent rise. Sigh.
Observing: the places where I lived as a teen and older and having a deep appreciation for that time.
Pleasing: to notice that I can continue to change some health habits slightly to be more health-aware in my ageing years.
Reading: the many and varied posts that YOU, my blogging friends, share here for Life This Week. We are, today, at #268 of the link up. And how I met some of my blogging friends two years ago.
Staying: on track with meditation. It will be 2 years without missing a session by end of 2021. I now do Daily Calm in the morning and another track in the evening. It still counts as one day!
Trying: to remember all I am grateful for more than ever…not everyone gets the chance to continue living as I have post-cancer.
Understanding: that life is not static. Der. But sometimes when I don’t want things to change, I then remember that they change anyway so grasping to keep things are they are is not on. I have learned much about this thanks to meditation, and listening to a range of CDs from teachers of Buddhism and more. Very wise people..and we are all human.
Viewing: old photos for this post and feeling the warmth of nostalgia but also heeding the point above!
Welcoming: changes to Covid restrictions here in N.S.W. soon, with reduction of places where you need to sign in with QR code, and having the choice to wear a mask. We think, for now, we will continue to mask up if in a crowded shop or doctors’ surgery. Definitely needed recently at a Big Hug Box packing day. NB: hope with new strain variant, we will remain vigilent.
X- “X-tra grateful” to all of the women who shared their stories of courage. In the 3 years, more than 72 women shared their stories. Wow. I have included images of all who continue to blog and link up here fairly regularly. I “hope” I have you all in this group. Let me know, if I have missed you.
Yes: to more plans to do ‘less’….and that sounds like a contradiction. In the meantime, here I am over decades of my life ‘doing’ what I most enjoy: connecting with those I care for and who love me. Perhaps a bit of a stretch re Former PM Julia Gillard, but she did thank me for my education roles.
Z – Is there anyone else I need to show my gratitude and admiration for their part of my life? Yes, it’s an old image but the LOVE from this Papa to his only grandchildren cannot be surpassed. And the love we had for him is exemplified in my brother now being Papa to his 2 grandkids and that B became Papa when his eldest granddaughter couldn’t get her mouth around Grandpa, and out came “Pa-Pa” and it sure stuck.
Thank you all for reading, commenting and sharing your blog post today.
Take care,
Denyse.
Started Life This Week Link Up. Sept 2016.
Life This Week. #268
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