Paul's Heart

2 More Milestones… One Big One To Come

I was thrilled when I saw the view counter turn over 15,000 for “Paul’s Heart.”  But as I sat down this evening to write my current post, I was greeted by WordPress that today was the 2nd Anniversary of “Paul’s Heart.”  I keep a lot of “anniversary” dates, but admittedly, this one slipped my mind.  I have always enjoyed writing, going waaaaaay back to junior high school when I started writing poetry and song lyrics.  But from a professional level, things took off for my about four years ago when I got the opportunity to write through a volunteer writing program at Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Center called “Visible Ink.”

“Visible Ink” matches up patients and survivors with a professional coach.  Writers can just write to put their feelings and experiences on paper (I call it therapy), or writers may have something more structured in mind.  I have had several things published through MSKCC and beyond.  And to reach a bigger audience, I started “Paul’s Heart.”  Originally intended to share my experiences as a long term cancer survivor, I have used “Paul’s Heart” to share other experiences as well.  I have written topics about education, bullying, animals, fatherhood, and over the last year, about divorce.

But the milestones do not stop.  Though to official counters, this will be my 400th post, though officially I am not going to count this as my 400th, because I just simply stating the obvious.  There is no effort just to state facts.  They are what they are.

And the official counter on my homepage has now announced that I am less than 2 months away from my 25th anniversary, free from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Thank you everyone for keeping “Paul’s Heart” going, for all your warm comments and suggestions.

Paul

2015 Off To A Great Start!!!

Happy New Year to all my readers and followers of “Paul’s Heart”!!!  The year is just barely 12 hours started, and amazing news is that “Paul’s Heart” has now had over 15,000 views in just its second year.  This is up from just 5000 that I had last year at this time.  So I want to take this time to thank each and every one of you right now for your support, your readership, and your sharing.

As I wrote in my last post, I personally want 2015 to be more positive.  That does not mean there will not be less than positive things that get written about on my blog, but I am going to try to make the blog more inspirational.  I want the blog to do what it has been intended to do, and that is help people.

Starting this year, I will continue to discuss my issues with being a long term cancer survivor as well as my life as a single father and the divorce process itself.  But I also want to expand my efforts to other topics as well.

One of the biggest successes I experienced on “Paul’s Heart”, and I believe benefited so many readers, was hearing the stories of others who have gone through issues of survivorship in one form or another, and I would like to continue to offer others an opportunity to tell their story here, on “Paul’s Heart”, in their own words.  So, if you have an inspirational story that you would like to share on “Paul’s Heart,” please send it to me at pedelmanjr@yahoo.com .  I would be honored to have your story shared on this blog.

Of course, if there is a particular question or topic that you would like to see written about on this blog, please email me your questions or suggestions at pedelmanjr@yahoo.com .

Once again, thank you all for your support and encouragement.  And Happy New Year!!

Paul

Out With The Old, In With The New

Not too long ago, I wrote about my lack of enthusiasm for the Christmas holiday season.  And in spite of that track record, I always look forward to the beginning of a new year.

2014 was probably the most difficult year of my life, and I have been through a lot up until this year without needing to break any records.  I lost a dear friend to the same cancer that I have survived all these years.  My dad passed away from lung cancer.  Of course, there is a divorce that I am dealing with, that is nowhere near final, and showing no signs of letting up as far as tension.

But in spite of how shitty 2014 has been, and to be honest, 2015 is going to be a bit rough out of the gate, I do have hopes that 2015 is going to be a better year.  It has to be.  I will probably skip right through January if you do not mind because I want to start the year off without giving any attention to the negative aspects of my life, which I hope to have under control entering February.

So with that, here is a step-by-step plan on how I plan to make 2015 better.

1.  getting my divorce issues straightened out, and finally moving forward

2.  hold my daughters, and spend more time with them

3.  spend more time with my friends, whether it is long-distance, or in my back yard.  With as dark as 2014 has been, each and everyone who has stood by me, has done nothing but offer me support and encouragement.  And that will never be forgotten.

4.  Josephine, what can be said about the year 2014 between the two of us.  I know the heart that you have, and I cannot wait to see what a year without loss and turmoil will bring us.

So with that, my plan for 2015 is simple.  Nothing tricky at all what I would like, or how to get there.

My wish is for everyone reading and supporting “Paul’s Heart” is to have a healthy and Happy New Year!