May I Remember THIS May Well!

A Post for The Link Up What's Been on Your Calendar.

Welcome to Denyse Whelan Writes Here.

May I Remember THIS May Well!

For the past 5 months I have needed to make many changes to my life style for my health’s sake. I have had wonderful support from my husband and G.P. and of course “myself”.

I would now admit that May has been my month for:

Gratitude

Growth

Glimmers

Grief

And one day soon I will write more on that series of “G” words.

For today, the second last day of May 2025 I am going to share my story of recovery and healing….and it’s never done! But I am so much better.

Today I saw my G.P. and heard all blood tests came back fine. In fact, she has passed my health care onto me…if you know what I mean. She says I have always had the tools, and of course I do use them. Many of them! Selfie as I left the Doctors’

But May had to start back on the first, right?

And I do find May a month of memories that can easily tip me into sadness and regret.

THIS May I recognised that if I was going to get back to the podiatrist ( long, long gap due to me being unwell) I had to take action to do so.

Early May 2025.

Goals met (even though I don’t call them that!)

1. Getting out and about locally

2. Visit to the podiatrist went well

3. Shopping Centre visit - after 5 months, and made it worth my while.

Into May …and What I Learned About Me.

That I can use all the self-help methods with success..and I still do, but for this situation in May I needed professional talking help. This photo (left) is an almost ‘smug’ me who thought a 2nd session with the psychologist would see me done. And it seemed so…until …I needed a 3rd session.

That I am not going to ever really get away from the notion of my oral cancer UNLESS I actually admit the trauma and acknowledge it. This message, via my own body (thanks anxiety, tears and I.B.S, MADE itself known.

So, even though I “thought” I might get away with little or no acknowledgment of the fact that 17 May is the anniversary of my diagnosis and 18th May the anniversary of being told how my surgery to remove the cancer would happen. Wrote about it here.

The BODY remembered…and I got help with how I might manage the trauma I have now accepted and between us, me and the psychologist we made the plan of ‘writing to heal and remember’ ..a private book just for me…and that she suggested 75 yo me help 67 yo me through it. I LOVED that idea.

On Being Grandma (and Proud Mum) In May.

I was asked to help out with 2 youngest granddaughters and was pleased to say to our son that I could. I admit the day spent at the Cross Country challenged me but I was able to make adjustments that worked well. Go Me! And our son, along with his 3 girls celebrated his Masters Degree in the afternoon.

And as a proudly public education supporter I also shared this image.

May became more of a month for me to get out and about again.

Now I have a still-new-to-me car it’s been great to find my confidence again to take small trips to view nature and on a couple of occasions recently to go as far as Sydney Harbour and Manly.

The image that sparked my substack look change. From Blues Point.

29 May at Manly Beach.

So glad to have made it…and it shows here!

How Have I Helped Myself in May.

Good Night’s Sleep. (aided by my night time anti depressant)

Eating as well as my mouth and gut allow. Even getting fruit into me these days.

Enjoying getting dressed with purpose whether I am going out or not.

Understanding and listening to my body (and mind) to best care for me. No more avoiding or pretending it’s all OK.

Daily Meditation via Calm which includes morning gratitude.

Daily Hypnotherapy and Relaxation via Nerva each afternoon. Helps me understand my gut better.

Art..of all kinds and fun..in books both big and small, and projects that I enjoy.

Chatting with B. Of course. Every day. At night we share 30 minutes in bed together with Wordle and checking out some stories on line we enjoy.

Colouring via the app Zen Colour.

Listening to Audible stories.

Listening to Music.

Getting outside every day and walking more.

Cooking for us, the freezer and family.

Accepting my physical limitations that now preclude travel anywhere away from home.

An amazing interactive app helping my thinking and updates with my health called Clarity. So good.

And learning..never stopping learning…

That’s me for May 2025.

And so glad to be back sharing with this link up.

Hope your May has been a good one..or perhaps one of learning and growing too as mine was.

Take care,

Denyse x

This post is linked to the monthly #whatsbeenonyourcalendar #WBOYC linkup hosted by bloggers Deb, Sue, Donna, and Jo.