New Year Reflections and Health Journey
Although it's a bit late according to the posting date, Happy New Year!
May our beloved Boksun, who is studying abroad, receive lots of blessings.
I wish for happiness always, our dear Gomju.
I've received photos of Liri-chan for the New Year.
And I've enjoyed Keiko's Japanese-style soba and tteokguk photos. What a hybrid!
At home, I indulged in coffee bean bread.
After visiting E-Mart, I cleared out the Dirty Chocolate series. The pastry bites are truly delicious.
At the end of the year, I was diagnosed with cancer during a thyroid ultrasound. I went for a breast ultrasound and added the thyroid option because they offered a discount, but cancer?!
Thinking back, I had a CT scan when I was hospitalized at the National Medical Center six years ago due to COVID. The doctor said, 'There's something visible in your throat, so see a doctor after discharge.' If they had mentioned it was the thyroid, I might have looked into it, but the vague description and lack of symptoms led me to this point.
It seems it existed as a benign tumor since then. Even if I had known, it could have turned into cancer during follow-ups. What's done is done. I only learned about my thyroid condition this time through the ultrasound. Everyone, please get regular ultrasounds for your breasts, uterus, and thyroid. Please!
Deciding which hospital to visit for a first consultation took me two days of searching through thyroid forums. I spent Friday and Saturday gathering general information. To clear my mind, I attended a ceremony at Bongeunsa Temple with fellow lantern holders on Sunday morning.
Even if thunder and lightning strike below the clouds, the sky above is blue. The monk's words to live with a heart as blue as the sky resonated with me. It was a perfect teaching for my current situation. Thank you.
My unexpected cancer revelation surprised my fellow lantern holders, who offered their concerns and help in finding hospitals.
When I worried about whether to call my mom from Gangneung for surgery, the lantern master reassured me that he would come, which touched me deeply. Although thyroid cancer is considered a 'good cancer,' it can spread, and cancer is still cancer. I decided to filter out information from patient cafes as too much can be mentally taxing.
After lunch and coffee with my fellow companions, I prayed while walking around the temple grounds. Nothing happens forcefully, so I hope for a smooth surgery and recovery. Health is the best!
I asked ChatGPT to draw a healthy version of me. It even included a cat, which added 10 points to its charm. I’ve been consulting with ChatGPT about my worries lately, and it’s surprisingly comforting. Thank you.
On Saturday, before the youth meeting event, I stopped by Jogyesa Temple. I enjoyed strawberry ice cream with a coupon from Longlong.
I offered a candle but was anxious as the strong winds threatened to extinguish it. Now, until the day of surgery, I will pray to the Medicine Buddha for healing!
On the way to the meditation center in Samcheong-dong, it snowed heavily. The sky on the opposite side was blue with fluffy clouds. What is this? Just like the monk's teaching, it was a blue sky.
I drew a tarot card, and it showed 'action.' However, taking further action seems difficult for now! What could that mean?
YS, a member of the lunch club, became a job broker thanks to SJ, and they treated us to lunch to celebrate. We enjoyed delicious hamburgers. Double patties are the way to go!
Although it’s sad to part with the teacher, I wish them happiness in their new position. Bye-bye.
On Saturday, I planned to visit the Sejong Center for an exhibition with my fellow youth members. Before that, we decided to eat mandu jeongol in Insadong.
While eating, I felt like I was nourishing my body with every bite. This winter, I'm frequently enjoying Pyongyang dumplings, and each place has its unique taste.
One person even brought two chonku, which was a delightful surprise! I had only experienced a cheap one from CU, so this was a joyful moment. Although the price of 7,800 won for one was hard to comprehend, the satisfaction of trying a trendy item enveloped me.
After chatting over coffee, we headed to the Sejong Center!
I loved Monet's paintings and Renoir's as well. After watching The Nutcracker, ballet felt strangely familiar.
I bought a postcard of a painting I liked. This exhibition was a highlight for me. I stood in front of those two paintings multiple times, captivated by Joaquín Sorolla's expression of light and the shepherd girl’s gaze.
Seeing beautiful things is a joyful experience. I want to live healthily and enjoy beautiful things for a long time.
We enjoyed the exhibition at our own pace and later gathered for a group photo. I usually visit exhibitions alone, but sharing this experience was wonderful.
After viewing the paintings, we went to Anguk for tea. We discussed wanting to try temple stays at 33 Gwan-eum Seongji. Are we planning to visit Magoksa in the spring? Let’s go!
On Sunday, I spent the day eating and resting at home before heading out for a leisurely walk to the local Starbucks after dinner.
With my first consultation at Severance tomorrow, I wanted to organize my thoughts and questions. I decided to let things flow and ended up browsing a photo book by Louis Hui before heading home.
I hope the surgery date is scheduled soon. Namu Kwanseum Bosal!
Source :https://blog.naver.com/bodol_me/224152337673
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