Boobies Blog

BY: Leigh Hurst, FYB Founder/President 

There are some days, well actually a lot of days, when I feel overwhelmed before I even get out of bed.  Between basic day to day “life” tasks and other family and work related responsibilities it’s enough to make you just pull the covers back over your head sometimes.  Do you ever feel that way?

By nature, I’m scatter brained, prone to tangents, and an organized wanna-be who actually feels at home with some level of chaos. To-do lists are my drug of choice to induce my masquerade for the outside world as a naturally focused and highly productive person.  Those close to me are aware of my addiction and sometimes marvel at how drastically different the masquerade is from reality and how well I can pull off my disguise.

Because of my addiction to the to-do list, which I maintain is a harmless addiction compared to most, I’ve become keenly aware of the types of items that make up my lists.  Some items are easy ones that I intentionally include because they are sure to be completed quickly, giving me a quick injection of joy that comes from a sense of accomplishment.  Things like “take the dog out”, “get gas”, “send Thank You note to Rachel”, and “thaw out the chicken for dinner” are the routine items I love to include in my lists because before you know it they’re done and have the much sought after check mark beside them. 

But then there are other not-so-fun items that sometimes linger on my to-do list like flies on garbage.  Things like “floss your teeth” or “go to the gym”.  We know we’re supposed to do these types of things, but for some reason we dread them or put them off.  I know for me, flossing gets the boot because “I’m too tired” and it’s just one more thing keeping snuggling up to my ever so comfy pillow and even more snuggly dog, Janet (sorry Tom, you’re snuggly too!).  And going to the gym, well, we all have volumes of really creative excuses for why this one often gets tossed from the list – and usually they involve some variation on the idea that tomorrow will be a better day to exercise. 

Even as a breast cancer survivor and admitted list maker addict, you might be surprised to learn that “feeling my boobies” never makes it on my list of to-do’s.  It never has.  Whether before or after my diagnosis, I still don’t think of it as something that needs to be on my list of daily, weekly or monthly to-do’s.  Why, you ask?  Because I do it every day during the course of normal daily activity.  I shower….I feel my boobies.  I get dressed…I “feel my boobies”.  It’s not something that needs any special reminder.  For those of you who think of “feeling your boobies” as just one of those lingering things to remember amidst your daily routine…you should start to realize that you already do it everyday anyway.  So next time you shower or get dressed, just take some extra time to really “feel your boobies” and get to know what’s normal for you.  I did and it saved my life.