| During my personal journey through cancer, now | | | | physically capable of doing that. On a day when |
| over thirteen years ago, I made an interesting | | | | you are going somewhere, like the doctors office |
| emotional observation. This observation led me to | | | | or perhaps you need to work even though you |
| coin a term I call "a sick mentality". For anyone | | | | are ill be sure to think about wearing something |
| who has even been very sick and/or fought a | | | | that is a bit fitted and in a color that complements |
| deadly illness or disease such as cancer you will | | | | your complexion. These two things alone will |
| identify with either having or fighting this mentality. | | | | make you feel a bit more perky and pretty. |
| It starts with accepting that you are not in | | | | Your skin care and makeup regimen also need to |
| perfect health and that, in itself, is not bad. In | | | | morph with you during this time...but that does not |
| fact, for simple life preservation, many times it is | | | | mean doing nothing because you don't feel like it. |
| imperative that you change things about your | | | | This is a sure way to make yourself feel worse |
| lifestyle, actions and attitudes. | | | | with that "sick mentality" spiral. You need to be |
| However, after those changes have been made if | | | | doing basic skin care and putting your face on |
| is important that you do not get a "sick | | | | daily. A simple makeup regimen of an organic |
| mentality". By that I mean that all you think | | | | mineral foundation in a sun-kissed color combined |
| about, talk about....every action you take is based | | | | with a moisturizing colored lip gloss and a bit or |
| on an inner attitude of "I am a sick person". Our | | | | mascara only takes a couple of minutes to apply. |
| minds work in such a way that the more we tell | | | | If you are on a chemotherapy that causes hair |
| ourselves we are sick we actually spiral down | | | | loss there are a few more steps you can add for |
| mentally and emotionally which then may cause | | | | days you need to look a bit more professional or |
| us to spiral down more physically. It will become a | | | | dressed up. There are several companies that |
| vicious spiral unless steps are taken to stop it. | | | | offer eyebrow stencils and there is even a |
| One of the best ways to help keep the spiral | | | | company called NuBrow that sells eyebrow |
| from starting - or to stop it and start it moving | | | | prosthetics! These prosthetic eyebrows can be |
| the opposite direction is to take action regarding | | | | dyed to match your natural hair color and will last |
| how you take care of yourself and how you look. | | | | up to six weeks of daily applications. A simple dot |
| I firmly believe that looking your best is a cancer | | | | and smear technique to give the illusion of |
| treatment. | | | | eyelashes is easy to learn or you can have false |
| I know you don't feel good during the cancer | | | | eyelashes professionally applied. (Please do not |
| journey and that it is more of a challenge | | | | apply them yourself unless you have been doing it |
| physically to put yourself together, especially if | | | | already for years. Your eyes are especially |
| your body has changed due to surgery. You will | | | | susceptible to infection during treatment, It is not |
| find, though, that if you get up each morning and | | | | worth taking the risk. You will love the dot and |
| get dressed (even if you are not going anywhere) | | | | smear method as an alternative.) |
| it does something to your psyche. You do not | | | | More than perhaps any other time in your life you |
| have to dress up or even dress in street clothes. | | | | will want to adopt a KISS attitude..."keep it simple |
| Just pulling on a pair of comfy pull-on pants and a | | | | sister". Just remember simple does not equal |
| soft top that are color coordinated is a good | | | | doing nothing. This is a time to explore your |
| start. When you stay in your bedclothes you tend | | | | options and have some fun doing it. So much is |
| to feel lazy and sloppy. That affects how you | | | | being dictated for you but this is something you |
| walk and hold yourself. You need to be standing | | | | can take control of. Looking your best really is |
| up straight and talking steps not shuffling if you | | | | cancers silent treatment. |