How to Run a Marathon and Still Feel Pretty – By Ambassador Kristen

How to Run a Marathon and Still Feel Pretty – By Ambassador Kristen

Dear Beloved Kinds,

I have been pondering about how to update all of you on my chemotherapy solutions this summer months, which just so transpire to have fallen correct smack dab in the center of starting to be a Beth Millner Jewelry ambassador. For a even though I was not confident if it was the worst timing or the very best timing when I was selected, but then I realized that this is particularly how lifetime goes: you don’t get to select the timing of your life’s challenges or your possibilities. You only have regulate on how you choose to consider about them, and how or if you choose to act upon them. For occasion, I could say that breast most cancers is the worst matter or the best issue that is transpired to me, for the reason that both of those are real. Surgery and chemo are not particularly issues that folks rush to signal up for, but at the identical time, that’s exactly what it took to uncover how lots of angels I have in my corner and how variety and generous and considerate the entire world can be. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen battling breast cancer

 

Now that I’m approaching 7 days 8 of the 12-7 days Chemo Marathon that I hardly ever wished to indication up for, sponsored by the club I’d hardly ever preferred to sign up for (breast cancer), I have recognized a own fact: marathons suck. I suggest, I’m certain there’s at minimum a single person out there who loves working so much that they glimpse ahead to beating the crap out of their bodies for miles and miles, and that possibly there’s some strange runner’s euphoria I’ve but to tap into, but dang! Not gonna lie, it was less complicated at the beginning when you’re at the starting up line and there are a gazillion of your bystander peeps seeing you and cheering you on. And I’m certain there will be just as lots of there waiting for me to cross the end line. But when you’re on mile 8 of 12, and there are not as many men and women on the sidelines looking at you any longer, your working will get fairly unpleasant, and so do your views. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen losing hear from chemo treatment

 

And talking of that, there’s very little that’ll stir up your notions of elegance and ugliness quite like a good spherical of balding chemo. But then yet again, that’s the complete position of this story, a reminder that we have complete control of how we decide on to see one thing, and we can both seize an opportunity or enable it go us by. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen losing hair from chemo treatment

I never know about you, but because I did not system on obtaining all my hair tumble out a number of times in my life, I figured now was the probability to transform a few lemons into lemonade. 

It was a couple of months ago when I was able to get started pulling all my hair out in clumps, pretty much correct on plan, all-around “mile 4” in the marathon. I realized that as really hard as it was, I’d have to have to make peace with declaring goodbye to my hair, as “unpretty” as that may make me sense, and I’d had a fantastic plan that would distract me more than enough to get via at least the upcoming couple of miles. 

I was going to chortle my way by means of the entire matter, and I was heading to make absolutely sure that anyone else benefited from it, too. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen losing hair from chemo treatments

And that is just what I did. I went out on social media and explained to all my friends that for every $20 they donated, that they’d get their names set in a hat for a large drawing, and that the man or woman whose title was drawn would get the honor of choosing the design that my Mumma would attract on the again of my bald head, at the time I’d shaved off all my hair. The proceeds were break up equally between the Delta County Cancer Alliance and Wildlife Unrestricted of Delta County. With each other my angels lifted nearly $2,500 to break up amongst two of my favored charities!

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen with a new short haircut

It took me three haircuts this yr to get to my bald canvas. People of you who knew me six months in the past realized that I experienced very long hair down to my reduced back, so my hair was a large element of my id. I donated the initial foot of it to Youngsters With Hair Reduction, so that anyone else would be equipped to have on a wig that I was ready to expand for them myself. I’d performed this after before and had decided that the moment my hair reaches a specific size, I’m going to maintain doing this until finally I’m no extended about to preserve expanding it. Think of all the wigs that’ll be out in the planet just after so quite a few many years! Can make me smile. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen having fun with her new hair!

My 2nd haircut celebration was heading from my shortened bob haircut duration to tomboy duration, which was remarkably tougher than going pool-cue bald. Possibly it reminded me of the previous time I’d experienced my hair this shorter in next quality, a small kid mistook me for a boy, and my psyche under no circumstances recovered. Maybe it’s simply because I just really don’t consider quick, quick hair is all that flattering on me. Whatever the purpose, I experienced to power-smile my way via that overall 7 days before the true shave took position, and that gave me a clear slate in a lot more means than a person. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen with a freshly shaved head

Very little says “I appreciate you” really like your superior hairdresser pal agreeing to turn you into a bowling ball (I have been advised I have a completely round head) and your 75-calendar year-aged mother agreeing to draw some thing on the again of your head for charity. And that’s specifically what they did. The gal whose name experienced been drawn required a hummingbird and a pink breast most cancers ribbon in the layout, and taking into consideration that the canvas was moveable pores and skin covered in a light stubble, I assume my mother actually kicked ass on the finished item! 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen used her bald head from chemo treatments as a canvas for breast cancer awareness art

It is been two weeks operating all-around my corner of the earth with no hair, and the part I haven’t mentioned until finally now, simply because I’ve been much too chaotic pretending that getting bald is a entire hoot and a hilarious experience, is that oh boy, there are days when I feel sooooooo unpleasant. I have put a couple of photos of my new type out on social media, and a lot of folks have commented on how wonderful I glance. But I don’t actually believe them. I’m convinced that they’re indicating it just to make me feel improved, simply because, you know, Mile 8. The aspect exactly where I’m “ugly running” and individuals do not have time to sit there on the sidelines and cheer me on every single second of the day for the reason that they have their personal life to are living. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen's mom painting her head

I realized with out a doubt that I’d have unsightly days during this marathon. The thing is, even when you know there will be struggles uphill, sometimes you don’t see them coming till you’re right smack dab in the center of one particular. And all you can do is accept the hill, suck it up, buttercup, and hold plodding mainly because faster or later on the ground will be level yet again. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen during chemo treatment

The natural beauty I’ve been in a position to choose with me on this marathon considering that the starting is my Beth Millner parts. Regardless of whether I have had long hair or shorter hair or no hair, they’ve been with me for the complete marathon, like a talisman preserving me from emotion unattractive or from experience like a comprehensive failure. They remind me of so quite a few everyday living lessons I want to find out this time around. When I head into every single chemo mile marker, I’ve bought a different perform of artwork accompanying me. 1 7 days it’s my bumblebee pedant, reminding me to maintain fast paced and to maintain relocating. The following it may be my coronary heart pendant, reminding me of all the really like and aid I’m using with me into every of these classes. A different is my butterfly selection, representing the alterations that I’m going by. Probably I’m experience hideous at this stage of my journey because that’s how it is meant to go, like how the caterpillar could possibly experience before it cocoons. But look at how I’ll be reworked at the stop of this marathon!

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen enjoying life while undergoing cancer treatment

I’m seeking ahead to sharing with you my finish line, my transformation, and my story as it carries on to unfold. I have always said that my purpose is to guide this sort of an uncommon and exciting existence so that I’ll have seriously excellent tales to notify when I’m 100 yrs outdated in the nursing home, and boy, is this 12 months ever generating! Thank you, my angels and cheerleaders, for inserting yourselves alongside my marathon route and rooting for me. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen enjoying life while undergoing cancer treatment

Coincidentally, subsequent 7 days you could actually cheer me on, if you’re in the Escanaba-Gladstone region. My husband Todd and godson Noah and I are all “competing” in the MISH mini-triathlon on August 27. Noah will be carrying out the 3-mile kayak part, I will be biking 13.5 miles, and Todd will be working the 5k finale. I’m not positive I’ll be breaking any data for pace on Saturday, but you can most assuredly rely on me not staying a quitter. 

Let’s go, Team G! 

Be happy, be effectively.

Kris G