Uncategorized » and another thought

Having support is so important, someone to call on for help or just to talk to. It’s comforting knowing someone has your back, even if you never call on him or her.

Women seem to be champions in the support arena Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying men aren’t supportive, many are. Sadly society seems more accepting of women being outwardly supportive. We offer kind words, comforting hugs and a helping hand to family, friends, even strangers. It’s amazing to read tales, hear stories, or be part of it.

There’s no better example of women being supportive than now, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We run to raise funds. We write to raise awareness. We pray for those trying to cope. I think that’s why I love being part of EverythingMom and the whole online community; it’s a support network for moms, a pink network so to speak.

If asked who is your pink network, who would you turn to if you needed support, a few friends would probably pop into your head quickly.

For me it’s not a group. I’m not very open. Groups make me uncomfortable, stressed even. I’m actually fine being on my own but yes it can help to have someone to talk and for me it’s my mom. Sure it may be cliché but she’s been there for everything: my adjustment to adulthood as I ventured out of Ottawa when everyone else I knew stayed behind, my struggle with accepting that my oldest daughter’s premature birth and hospital stay had nothing to do with me, my fear that I would loss my son to a terrible illness before he was even born.

My mom has been there for me, is still there for me, yet sometimes my introverted qualities that provide me comfort can also be alienating to those important to me. Before kids, before being married, my mom and I traveled to Nova Scotia together. We had a girl’s trip, just the two of us, exploring Cape Breton Island. It was an amazing time just hanging out together, before we started our own separate adventures (her as a divorcee and me as a newly married woman). At the time I would have never guessed that journey would have been our last real time together, just us. We still see each other, occasionally, and talk to each other, rarely, but nothing like the connection we had on that adventure some 15 years ago.

Now as I celebrate another birthday today (40 something, I’ve lost count), I can’t help but be more cognizant of my health and that of my mother. I watched an amazing documentary About Her, talking to 9 very brave Canadian women and their daily struggle with breast cancer. These women are just like me, like my mother, and the thought of losing my mother, my business partner Michelle, Sara and Maria and Diane and Sharon and countless other fabulous women in my online community I know and don’t yet know, to breast cancer is unfathomable.

Many companies out there understand this fear we have, a very real fear about breast cancer affecting the lives of wonderful women everywhere. I love my smartphone, as do many multi-tasking moms, so it seems fitting that Telus is supporting the cause. For every pink Blackberry Curve sold during the month of October, they will make a $25 Cdn donation toward the purchase of digital mammogram machines. Hopefully with more machines, more women, like myself, and you, will make the effort to get tested earlier and receive treatment sooner. Even if you’re not in the market for a new phone, you can still support the cause. Let Telus know who your Breast Friends are by adding them to the Telus Pink Network on Facebook and they’ll make a $1 Cdn donation to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. You show the world the friends you care about and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation benefits too.

The Pink Network - Breast Cancer Support. A video worth the watch.

By helping me share this post on twitter I may have the chance to treat my mom to another girl’s trip together, just like the one we did over 15 years ago. The folks at Telus have offered to send the person with the most RT’s of their post on twitter (from October 4 until Oct 10) on a weekend away with their pink network. Sure I’d love to be able to treat my mom, though I’m not very good at popularity contests (another drawback to being an introvert). Instead my hope is that you share this post on twitter (using @cbadov and the #pinknetwork hashtag) as a way to remind yourself about the importance of support. Don’t let a day go by that you don’t let those in your pink network know how important they are to you. Heaven forbid you never get that chance.

Thank you.

I’ve been asked to write this post in support my pink network an for doing so Telus will make a $400 Canadian donation to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation in my name. That alone is worth the time to write.