{"id":1173,"date":"2025-10-08T13:45:40","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T20:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cherylrostek.com\/?p=1173"},"modified":"2025-10-08T13:45:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T20:45:40","slug":"river-prayer-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cherylrostek.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/08\/river-prayer-practice\/","title":{"rendered":"River Prayer Practice"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s Fall. Since my glioblastoma brain cancer diagnosis in October 9 years ago, I have had a mixed relationship with fall. Initially I celebrated my survival anniversaries with a RahRah Cancer Survivor bravado. But this gave way to a bittersweetness as I shifted to the wilderness of long-term survivorship.<\/span><\/p>\n

I like how<\/span> Paul Kalanithi in his book <\/b>When Breath Becomes Air<\/i><\/b> describes this as he processes his terminal lung cancer diagnosis:<\/span><\/p>\n

“Death is a one time event, but living with terminal illness is a process\u2026The curse of cancer created a strange and strained existence, challenging me to be\u00a0 neither blind to, nor bound by, death’s approach. Even when the cancer was in retreat, it cast long shadow.” 165 (1)<\/span><\/p>\n

This long shadow tainted fall (formerly my favorite season) with anxiety. Anxiety I\u2019ve tried to outrun because October is my twins\u2019 birthdays. A celebratory month! But my body has kept the score. (2)<\/span><\/p>\n

So this year I decided to take Buddhist monk, Pema Chodron\u2019s advice and turn to my fear as a way of disarming it. (3) Turning and looking my glioblastoma brain cancer survivor anniversary in the eyes – not as a \u201cbeast\u201d that I need to defeat (4). But rather with kindness for what I have learned over my 9 year survivorship.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To honor my nine glioblastoma survivor anniversary, this year I return to the vulnerability that a brain cancer diagnosis elicits by bravely sharing with you a spiritual practice that has supported me through the \u201clong shadow\u201d of longterm survivorship. A spiritual practice I started after returning from a vacation in Honololu this January.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A spiritual practice of listening to the River.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tomorrow, October 9, 2025 my first weekly video (of 5) outlining this spiritual practice will drop on Instagram and Facebook (5). Please join me.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

xo<\/span><\/p>\n

Cheryl\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. I was hesitant to read <\/span>Paul Kalanithi\u2019s book When Breath Becomes Air <\/i><\/strong>fear<\/strong>ing it would be too close to my own story and unravel my nerves. Instead I felt seen as I read his wonderful words. I resonated deeply with the following quote as well, \u201cthe certainty of death was easier than this uncertain life\u201d.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. If you haven\u2019t read the ground breaking book on trauma by Bessel VanDerKolk <\/span>The Body Keeps The Score <\/span><\/i>go buy it now. My copy is underlined, highlighted and flagged. It is one of the few books I returned to the library and promptly purchased.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. A concept I learned from Chodron\u2019s book, <\/span>When Things Fall Apart<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. I used to refer to brain cancer as a beast I was going to defeat. This Cancer Warrior sort of rhetoric fizzled however when my energy waned and I learned a kinder approach to myself and to disease. Disease I now believe is a teacher, not a monster. If I listen to it I can learn. As I learn, longevity benefits.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. My videos are very far from perfect, technology and I are often at odds, but I\u2019ve decided to post them anyhow, the best I could sort out. Thanks for understanding.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    It\u2019s Fall. Since my glioblastoma brain cancer diagnosis in October 9 years ago, I have had a mixed relationship with fall. Initially I celebrated my survival anniversaries with a RahRah Cancer Survivor bravado. 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