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30. The contrast of sailing around the world and cancer

Sailing around the world and cancerYesterday my best friend from New York called. We don’t often talk over the phone due to the 5 hour time difference so my first reaction was, ‘are you okay?’ She responded, ‘Yeah, I’m okay but tell me about your sailing adventure. Tell me everything. When do you leave? How is the boat?’

What’s this about sailing around the world and Cancer?

Two years ago, my childhood friend was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer. She had to endure a year of chemo, radiation, and several operations. As soon as I heard her initial diagnosis I flew home to Rochester, NY to spend time with her. Over the course of her treatment I visited her as many times as I could. And once she was given the ‘all clear,’ I flew home once again to celebrate.

During my visit’s we’d hang out just like we did when we were kids

We’d chat about nothing, make a drama out of something small and giggle at things no one else would find funny. We’d take the kids to the zoo, visit family, go out for a meal or walk around the mall. I just felt the need to be next to her. Surprisingly, I felt so calm and peaceful when we were together. It just didn’t matter what we did – I just wanted to be by her side.

After telling my friend about our exciting adventure, she broke the news to me

‘Kim, the doctors found some cancerous cells. It’s not a tumor but it’s cancer. I have cancer again.’

My heart sunk, my mind raced and I became angry. And then I felt as if I fell between a chasm of opposites. Here I am about to leave for the adventure of a lifetime and at the other end of the spectrum, my dear friend is about to endure another fight for her life.

When I’m updating my blog, writing in my journal, making preparations for our sailing adventure I get lost in a flow. I lose track of time. I feel as if the greater world doesn’t exist. Everything is good, easy, expanding, and changing in a positive motion.

The contrast between thinking of flow and thinking of my friend is a big one

Not only do I feel my heartache for my friend, but my heart seems to ache for all of humanity that isn’t thriving. And as my emotions flood me I feel vulnerable. I start to spiral and ask myself, ‘what am I doing?’ ‘What happens if my hubby or daughter gets sick?’ ‘What if I get sick?’ ‘What if I need to fly home to see my friend?’ ‘What if I can’t get home?’ ‘What if we all die?’ ‘Life is serious – what am I doing trying to live the dream?’ ‘Who am I to think that life is great?’

And then I feel numb

That’s how I feel now. I want to cry but tears won’t come out. I don’t want to feed the cancer with negative vibes. I don’t want to even acknowledge it. I want my friend to be healthy, happy, and find fulfillment in her life. I want her to thrive in every sense. I want every human to thrive.

What’s the point?

There’s no point to this entry. Just to include you on my journey. It’s not all happy feelings and good things. Things like cancer still exist in my world 🙁

Watch our next video; Extra: The reason I decided to sell up and sail away (video)

Next Chapter: 31. Courses, becoming British, putting our remaining possessions on a pallet and what else?

Previous Chapter: 29. We got a gun, but not the kind you’re probably thinking of

Or…if you’d like to carry on reading all about our journey from selling up and sailing away, you can purchase my book, ‘Changing Lifestyles – Trading the Rat Race in For A Sail Around The World,’ 

Changing LifestylesREADER REVIEW
"I finished your book this week and absolutely loved it! It was great to read about your early days in many places we also sailed. I loved the way you combined your blogs/real life scenarios with advise on boat maintenance, letting go of your previous life and about your honestly throughout. I enjoy your style of writing Kim, and I loved the little Sienna quotes." Jayne Eames-Thornton, s/v Delphinus
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Changing Lifestyles: Trading in the Rat Race for a Sail Around The World (my book). Chapters:

  • 1. That’s it – I’m selling everything and sailing around the world!

  • 2. Oh crap – Are we healthy enough to sail around the world?

  • 3. House sold, price on yacht almost negotiated – just need temporary housing now!

  • 4. Before I sell up and sail away I need to clean out my closet (in many ways)

  • 5. Getting the boat of our dreams – will we or won’t we?

  • 6. Negotiations 56 Oyster Yacht have finished but not without massive pain

  • 7. Everything was going well until we got this phone call…

  • 8. Quick, quick – we need to sell our current boat. We need a place to live. We need to…

  • 9. My new normal and dealing with giving up all our possessions

  • 10. Going from sailing Selene to selling Selene so we could afford to buy our 56′

  • 11. Sea trials and the survey – the night before we meet our dream yacht

  • 12. Hours before we meet our new yacht…our new home!

  • 13. Sea trials on the Oyster 56 were a success – we love her!

  • 14. Getting a yacht lifted out for a Marine Survey

  • Extra: Sell Up and Sail Away Video – Sea Trails & Survey

  • 15. After sea trials and the survey I ran a marathon (accidentally)

  • 16. What does homeschooling, the paleo diet, writing, and photography have to do with sailing?

  • 17. I’m so freaking frustrated – the world is broken

  • 18. Saying goodbye to my old routines and old lifestyle

  • 19. Life has slowed way down – is it the calm before the storm?

  • 20. A lesson on stopping the ‘what-if’s’ from taking over my life!

  • 21. Serious issue – we can’t take our yacht to Barcelona, Spain as planned – YIKES!

  • Extra: Sell Up and Sail Away Video 2 – Our thoughts, feelings and move day!

  • 22. The day before we purchase our 56′ Oyster

  • 23. My first trip on our new yacht – Dolphins included!

  • 24. Feeling excited, sick, and in awe are not mutually exclusive when sailing on the seas

  • 25.Things got worse

  • Extra: Sell Up and Sail Away Video 3 – Palma Mallorca to Gibraltar

  • 26. Sell up and sail away preparations – we successfully took possession of your new yacht

  • 27. Preparation for our around the world sailing trip couldn’t get more exciting!

  • 28. Two months to go before we set sail for our world adventure

  • 29. We got a gun, but not the kind you’re probably thinking of

  • 30. The contrast of sailing around the world and cancer

  • Extra: The reason I decided to sell up and sail away (video)

  • 31. Courses, becoming British, putting our remaining possessions on a pallet and what else?

  • Extra. No – we did not win the lottery!

  • 32. Less than 3 weeks to go before we sail off into the sunset

  • 33. Ten days to go before we set sail on our grand adventure

  • 34. Will this sailing adventure turn me into a dreadlocked, pot smoking, whale saver?

  • 35. In 2 days we will set sail around the world sailing adventure

  • 36. Leaving Gosport England today to start on our around the world sailing adventure

  • 37. Life aboard our new yacht with the BBC, Daily Mail and Times in tow

  • 38. Feeling amazing, scared, overwhelmed and useless

  • 39. Sailing Gibraltar To Malta

  • 40. I’m honoured to introduce Loryn Bennett – Britican’s Chef

  • 41. I still can’t even believe this is happening

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