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Marilyn Hagar's avatar

Thanks for adding creativity to list of things women can do to support their healing. Making art even if we don’t feel like we are artists or making music even if we don’t feel like we are musicians or using movement and dance to express our feelings or writing the story of our healing journeys is enormously helpful in offering a different perspective on what we have been through. Expressing ourselves in these ways helps us to move forward and turn toward our healthy future. Thanks for the interview.

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Beth L. Gainer's avatar

Marilyn, you are absolutely right. We don't have to have a title of artist or ballerina, for example, to express our creativity. Our stories matter and belong in the universe.

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Beth love this last little bit, a good reminder for the day ahead; "Our stories matter and belong in the universe." Thank you.

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Marilyn, I feel like creativity is the number one thing that women can do to support their healing. And you make such a good point that we don't need to be artists or have an artistic title, i.e. dancer, musician, poet, etcetera, to create. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.

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When Women Get Sick's avatar

Marilyn and Steph, I agree and appreciate this conversation so much!

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Marian Beaman's avatar

Thanks, both of you, for the insightful conversation.

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Thank you, Marian. We appreciate your being here.

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When Women Get Sick's avatar

Thank YOU for joining the conversation!

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When Women Get Sick's avatar

Thank you so much for this amazing conversation. There’s a lot we can do to make women’s health journeys better.🌸

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Absolutely wonderful and insightful to interview you about your amazing book. When Women Get Sick, available on Amazon and in book stores July 29!

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Beth L. Gainer's avatar

Hi Rebecca and Stephanie,

Loved Part 2, and I'm so glad you covered survivorship, which is so very important. After cancer treatment ended, I went through a dark period of trying to figure out what had happened to me. During treatment, doctors and other medical personnel are trying to save your life. After treatment, you finally have some mental space to think about what happened.

Rebecca, I ordered your book, and I can't wait to read it! Thank you for your wonderful insights.

Stephanie, WOW! Thank you so much for your huge shout-out! I so appreciate your mention of my Breast Cancer, Female and Young art series, as well as my landscapes. Art is so essential to my healing and survivorship, as you know. Once the paintbrush hits the canvas, I feel absolute serenity, and during the hours I'm painting, I am fully in the present. I also use guided meditation and journaling, which were mentioned in your terrific conversation.

Rebecca, if you'd like to check out one of my Substack posts on survivorship, plus accompanying artwork, you can go to the following post: https://bethlgainer.substack.com/p/when-being-alive-is-not-enough

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

I think you are an important voice for the advocacy of women's healthcare and women's healing. I was happy to give you a shoutout. People who experience the Breast cancer, Female and Young series, I belive get a direct transmission of what the healing process can be. Biggest of hugs, my friend.

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Beth L. Gainer's avatar

Thank you!

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When Women Get Sick's avatar

Beth, I will check it out! And I just got your book and can’t wait to dive in!

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Beth L. Gainer's avatar

Thank you so much, Rebecca!

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