Why This Breast Cancer Survivor Loves the Holiday Season

For as long as I can remember, the holidays have been a most special time for me in so many ways. It usually starts when I hear the first of the music of the season and as merchants are vying for sales earlier and earlier every year, the decorations quickly start appearing. But, the holiday season between my first cancer surgery and the second diagnosis was most important to me.

“So I would strongly recommend to everyone that as long as you are able to get out and about that you soak in every warm feeling and cozy moment of the holiday season to make you feel so good inside.”Barbara Jacoby

At that time, I was done with surgery and planning to start radiation after the first of the year. My radiation oncologist had ordered another mammogram before starting the radiation and I thought that it would just be a routine test. But, two more small masses were seen and off for biopsies but I pretty much knew what the outcome would be. And while it might ruin the holidays for some, it turned out to be the perfect distraction for me.

I have a tradition of putting up the tree and decorations no later than the day before Thanksgiving. The reason is twofold. First, it is a lot of work and all of ornaments for the tree are special so I want to be able to enjoy them for more than just a few days. Second, and most important for me, is that I love to turn on all of the Christmas lights on Thanksgiving night in order to officially usher in the holiday season. Then, on the following weekend, I usually address my Christmas cards and then I can settle in to figure out the exact gifts that I want for those on my shopping list.

I couldn’t have focused my time on what the future might bring as far as the cancer was concerned as I was too wrapped up in enjoying each day. I would go to the mall and hear the Christmas carols being played everywhere and loved seeing Santa with all of the children who were so excitedly sharing their wishes for their Christmas presents. Decorations were everywhere and little ones could be seen counting their money with a parent in order to purchase the perfect present for Mom or Dad. It would bring back memories of when I found myself doing the same thing as a child and how proud I was of the choices that I made and how I couldn’t wait until my parents opened my carefully wrapped packages.

I had to take time to drive around the neighborhoods to see all of the festive displays that were lovingly assembled and carefully placed on lawns and porches and even on roofs and in trees. I could only imagine how much work such things would have taken. This always brought back memories of my dad setting up the platforms in the living room with the tree right in the center and my brother’s train circling around it. I know I spent more time running that train that he ever did and I was really grateful that he was willing to share the experience with me.

I would smell the fragrance of freshly baked cookies and remember all of the hours that we spent in baking the special cookie recipes that only appeared at Christmas. There were a number of them but the ones that I most deeply appreciated were those that we did as a family and those were the sand tarts. The dough was carefully prepared and rolled out as thinly as possible and then a star cookie cutter fashioned each creation. The cookies were then brushed with egg and a mixture of sugar and cinnamon was sprinkled on next. This was followed by red and green sugar crystals and topped off with a walnut piece before being whisked off to the oven for baking. This one cooking baking was an all-day event and we had so much fun doing this all together.

So each year as the holidays approach, I try to engage in all of the traditions from the past and have added some things of my own including my marathon Christmas movie watching. There is nothing else that I would rather do even if I am busy with other preparations at the time. When such is the atmosphere that is created for a whole month out of the year, it becomes easy to see why a looming cancer diagnosis just might take a back seat.

So I would strongly recommend to everyone that as long as you are able to get out and about that you soak in every warm feeling and cozy moment of the holiday season to make you feel so good inside. It doesn’t matter what tomorrow may bring if you are able to learn to enjoy the moments that you have today and the holiday season is the perfect time to experience this. If you focus on all of the beauty around you and on sharing the joy and wonder of the season with your family and friends, not only will you have the best holidays ever but you will understand how to appreciate every single day of the coming years that you will be given. It is a most wondrous opportunity.