TLC Survivorship Session - TOPIC: Hobby & Craft Show & Tell - Tuesday, May 20th!

We offered the very first TLC (Together we Live with Cancer) Survivorship Session in May of 2000. To commemorate this 25-year anniversary, session, I began by sharing these words from years ago offered by Dr. H. Marshall Matthews about the role of TLC:

"How do we heal best? I think we heal best by sharing, by listening, by knowing we are not alone. What I sense is when something like cancer happens to somebody, they often feel isolated and alone. To be able to join a group of people that are all going through the same thing, and realize they are not alone, is empowering. And when we share our struggles and allow others to share their struggles with us, we may learn to be grateful for those things that we do have that are positive. Gratefulness and a positive perspective, despite all sorts of bad stuff in our lives, are always helpful. And TLC is all of that! It’s being able to share, it’s having people understand on the deepest level what you are feeling, and it is about belonging and not feeling alone or isolated."

We spent the remainder of the session discussing the role, importance, and benefits of "healthy hobbies and comforting crafts" throughout life and during the cancer experience!

Survivors & Hobbies included: Bob Hartig (woodworking), Sharon Pentek (reading, sewing), Lenny Bogenschutz (cross stitch), Alex Messeck (art), Tim Renzelmann (disc golf), and co-survivor Cletus Leonhard (handmade turkey call).

PHOTO ABOVE: Sue Zalewski, cancer survivor, demonstrates one of her hobbies - serving others!

If you have a particular hobby, craft, talent, or interest that you might want to share, contact Tim! I know there is so much talent in our Local Cancer Community and, with enough interest, I would love to offer another "Survivor Hobby & Craft Showcase" later this year!