We ate grilled burgers and hot dogs at moms for Tristan's birthday that Bill made, then we had the cake that I made. His face when we sang Happy Birthday was the best. His mouth was opened so wide! His big brother even bought him a card. I was blessed with three amazing kids. I am so glad to be home.
I realize that many who hear these will still not believe in ghosts or spirits, no Heaven, no reincarnation, that death represents nothingness, that there is simply oblivion when we die, that life is all we have. These are my beliefs and my beliefs alone (I have vowed however; to my close friends and family who do not believe that I will come back to haunt them).
While I believe in the existence of ghosts and spirits, I also believe that souls represented by these ghosts and spirits eventually move on to something else, whether it be a new life or another dimension in time and space, somewhere where the soul has a chance to experience more of this universe and to learn, for ultimately, I believe in the evolution of the soul, that the meaning and the purpose of life is to enrich the soul with all the joys and and heartaches that this life and other lives can impart, that once the soul enters has learned as much as it can with all its wisdom and knowledge it enters what the Buddhists call Nirvana, and what Christians might call Heaven and a closeness or even a oneness even with God.
Since my diagnosis, I've witnessed so much determination to remain alive at all cost, sometimes with a maniacal frenzy that defies the most unimaginable level of physical and emotional pain. Many claim that this determination is born of a desire to remain present for their loved ones. I believe such determination is really born of a fear of death and not truly knowing what awaits. No doubt my unwavering belief in ghosts, spirits, reincarnation, and the evolution of my soul is what makes me unafraid of dying, that indeed it is these convictions that will prevent me from clinging manically to this life and in some respect makes me look forward to death. These thoughts lie at the heart of the enduring, evolved, and thoughtful peace that I seek to find with my own death.
What I have said, and what I continue to say to those with death perpetually lurking, some with it much closer than others; believe what you need to believe in order to find comfort and peace with the inevitable fate that is common to every living thing on this planet, whether it be nothingness or Heaven or reincarnation or ghosts; death awaits us all; one can choose to run in fear from it or one can face it head on with thoughtfulness and from that thoughtfulness, peace and serenity. The truth is no matter how vehemently anyone argues for or against the existence of God, Heaven, ghosts, reincarnation, or any other existential notion, there will never be an answer or an objective truth, at least not in this life. So, believe what you want to and even must believe and just maybe it will become your reality.
Love you all...mean it,
Shanna xoxoxo
LUNGevity National Hope Summit: I'm participating in an event to raise money to fight lung cancer—and I need your help!
I'm planning to attend LUNGevity Foundation's National HOPE Summit in Washington, DC, in May - it's a special conference just for lung cancer survivors like me. If I can raise $1000 or more in donations, LUNGevity will cover my travel expenses, including US round-trip transportation and hotel accommodations.
Proceeds from this fundraiser will benefit LUNGevity Foundation, the leading private provider of research funding for lung cancer. LUNGevity Foundation is firmly committed to making an immediate impact on increasing quality of life and survivorship of people with lung cancer by accelerating research into early detection and more effective treatments, as well as providing community, support, and education for all those affected by the disease.
Please join me in my efforts to stop lung cancer—the leading cancer killer—now!
Official prayer warrior page for my fight against lung cancer: facebook.com/hope4shanna
Official blog Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/shannabananahealthandfitness
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