The little wins and positive moments thread

Hi Matthew

Can I kick off with what I consider to be a personal win?

Just as I was in my second cycle of chemo earlier this year the notices came out about the Tour de 4 in Glasgow.  This is an event put on by Sir Chris Hoy (and a lot of others!!) to support those of us with Stage 4 cancer and to show the world that we can be strong and resilient.  I signed up! Not for the 56miles or the 26 miles but for the indoor bike challenge -a thirty minute race against the world - the peloton were all linked via the internet and folk from around the globe joined in.

I trained, went to the gym, cycled in the gym and at home and made it to Glasgow on September 6th.

What a fantastic day!  It was amazing to see all of those different souls who had joined in (those of us with Stage 4 had a gold armband so we could identify each other).  I had some amazing chats with lots of different people (including the MacMillan team).

I was aiming to be able to achieve 12km (that's 12,000 metres, one for every man who dies each year from Prostate Cancer).  I didn't just achieve that but rode for 15.2kms in the thirty minutes - spurred on by the wonderful Sophie Capewell, Olympic Gold Medalist, riding next to me.

The feeling of elation at achieving the goal was amazing and the high lasted for a couple of weeks!  Now I just need another challenge.

I was also humbled to be able to raise £1275 for Prostate Cancer UK - and I got a medal!!

So - set a goal , no matter how big or small and go for it!!!

That's fantastic KrisPy. Well done for raising all that money for such a good cause. Not so much a little win, more like an epic win! Many congratulations for deciding on the challenge, doing the training, and then following through. 

Anyone else out there taken on a challenge in order to raise money?

For anyone a little less sport-inclined (myself included!), that feeling of elation doesn't always come from completing a big activity. Having a go at doing anything we find challenging can be just as rewarding.

Even folding the laundry or making a cup of tea when you have very little energy can be a huge personal victory.

Does anyone relate to having that kind of 'household admin' victory?

My win is definitely a little win. Especially compared to how I was before surgery.

i made it down stairs for the first time since my surgery and ironed my daughter uniform

I am not good at being a patient. I am the mum and wife of the house and always there for everyone else so have had such guilt about having to just stay in bed and recover and having people run round around after me while I’m feeling like I’m achieving nothing useful for anyone.

Doing something so simple as ironing her uniform which I’ve done so many times and for years was a great win and made me feel a sense of achievement.

MrsSJM said:

i made it down stairs for the first time since my surgery and ironed my daughter uniform

That is fantastic news MrsSJM, very well done! I think that counts as a sizable win, quite honestly. You're absolutely right about returning to doing something you used to find mundane. Having some 'normal' back can feel like such a landmark achievement. Little by little, you're getting there.

MrsSJM said:

I am not good at being a patient. I am the mum and wife of the house and always there for everyone else so have had such guilt about having to just stay in bed and recover and having people run round around after me while I’m feeling like I’m achieving nothing useful for anyone.

That is a very common feeling, especially when you're used to being relied upon to keep critical elements of life running like clockwork. It's so hard to just accept that you need to rest. If it helps, try to remember that resting and recovering is very far from being selfish. It's a vital part of getting stronger again. Maybe this blog will resonate with you:

• Feeling guilty when you rest - relaxation, hobbies and self-care

Thanks so much for sharing your 'little' (but really quite big!) win.