little owl gets her phd
life and inspiration through education and letting go.
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Photo reblogged from
One day, whilst video-chatting with far away friends, and the way I was sitting made my arm and hand look like a swan. This is now lovingly known as “Swan Arm”. Creative, I know. Sometimes when video-chatting I make the swan swim across the screen. I have a point, I promise.
So, after the accidental creation of Swan Arm, I started paying more attention to the shapes that I arms could create. Low and behold, I found that I could cross my arms and loop my hands into the shape of the all familiar ribbon that signifies cancer awareness. Truth be told, I thought I looked pretty silly. But after shooting this photograph and sharing it with a friend, I thought I would share it with everyone else - because I don’t think it looks silly any more.
The ribbon is a symbol. A symbol that has so many meanings to so many people who have been affected by cancer and this photograph brings that symbol to life. It is something that lives within me as I remember those who I have lost to cancer, as I support those who fight it today, and acknowledge the fight of those who have survived this monster. Not only the ribbon made with my arms and hands has a symbol here. I sit in an old armchair with a photograph of my grandfather who I never met because cancer took him too early. All I know about him I have learned from stories from my grammy, mom, and aunt. I only have stories. Stories that I wish I could listen to him tell me himself while sitting in that chair. I would give anything to sit beside him with his arm around me and say “You done good” or “You’ve got my arm”. He was a great baseball player with a hell of an arm… and it just so happens that I do too. I have stories, and no grandpa to sit in a chair with to tell my stories to, to laugh and cry with, to protect me from the world.
You see, that ribbon lives in me. And it lives in you. It lives in so many people who have battled cancer and won. It lives in people who have lost family, partners, friends, and pets. It is in the stories you tell to you kids about the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, that they will never know. You don’t just wear it on t-shirts, pin it on your jacket, run with it during a race… it is with you every where you go.
Show us how your ribbon lives. Tell us the story of the ribbon that you carry with you. Send in your photos with you, your ribbon, and a story and we will publish it here. We can call it the “Ribbon Within” Campaign.
Mind you, the possibilities are endless, because the stories are endless. Photographs, poems, paintings, drawings… Sharing your ribbon with cancer fighters, survivors, and families/partners/friends who are left without someone they love.
Truth be told, this all just coming out as I write, so expect a clearer vision of this “Ribbon Within” Campaign in the coming days. Exciting! And to think this new campaign was brought to life by twisting my arm to look like a swan…
