Your Bell for the New Year? Who are you?

[Guest guest]

To all my friends,

The below was sent me and others by Medical Oncologist B. Strum, co-author with Donna Pogliano of the outstanding book for patients to better understand and treat prostate cancer "A Primer On Prostate Cancer - The Empowered Patient's Guide." Dr. Strum has been a Godsend to many by providing his many years experience and expertise specializing specifically in prostate cancer research and treatment to address and answer the concerns of prostate cancer patients and caregivers worldwide via the Us TOO Intl., Inc., Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network physician-to-patient (p2p) "prostatepointers" internet list. With permission, I am forwarding this to all of you to review, ponder, and, hopefully, look to creating your own "BELL." As noted by Dr. Strum, "Love & Peace & Meaning in Your Life in the New Year,"

Chuck

(Chuck) MaackProstate Cancer AdvocateWichita, Kansas Chapter, Us TOOBio: http://www.ustoowichita.org/leaders.cfm?content=bio & id=1Email: maack1@...

Dear Folks,

A patient sent me a Word document shaped as a BELL containing biblical quotes. Although I find most bibles beautiful insofar as their philosophy, I believe the nature of man is such that he will take such views, corrupt them and use them to separate rather than to integrate life. To me this is anathema. So I transformed this concept into my own philosophical bell, shown below. I spent some time doing this—finding meaningful thoughts, quotes, and philosophy that resonated with my spirit. This was a great spiritual exercise.

This New Year brings to us a chance for each of us to be messengers to bring health-peace-love into this world—all of which emanate from balance & communication, at every level of life. Let me suggest that you & your loved ones create your own bell to remind yourself & others who you are and what you stand for. Perhaps Donne was talking about this too when he wrote “never send to know for whom the bell tolls—it tolls for thee, because I am involved in mankind”

Who Am I I know who I am I am a part of the creation I am part of the world communityOur humanity lies in our human unity

I strive to leave the world a better placeI wish to see my work reflecting creativity I tend to God’s creations with love & passionI love to play in the garden & marvel at natureI am touched by the unconditional love of a childI am grateful for my parents that tried their bestI cry with sadness & at times with much happinessI view educators, poets, artists & musicians as gifts I feel all people need to be accountable & responsibleI believe loving another is the supreme form of energy

I believe role models should be persons that evolve society

I believe our politicians are failing & leaving a terrible legacy

We are driven by matter, energy & enlightened self-interest

Where two or more are gathered in my name, there shall I be alsoAny man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind

The beauty of nature inspires the heart to pursue the nature of beauty

To the cognition of the brain must be added the experience of the soulOur lives begin to end the day we remain silent about things that matterGreat civilizations are not conquered from without until destroyed from withinStatus & strategy are the only logical & reasonable ways to deal with issues vital to viability

Life is not a series of meaningless accidents but a tapestry of events culminating in a sublime plan

Balance & communication are keys to health-love-peace at levels from the cell on up to the universe.

Love & Peace & Meaning in Your Life in the New Year