SOS: A Call for Help and the Creative Power of Healing

Here’s a snippet from my new book, Cancer Ramblings, featuring a heartfelt foreword by the extraordinary Amy Powers.

“This book offers a powerful template of choices that can be made in the face of a devastating diagnosis: to control what you can, surrender to what you can’t, submit to what you must, and not only maintain some semblance of sanity, but create true spiritual growth in the process.”

~

Dear Friend,

Sometimes, life’s challenges can feel overwhelming—whether it’s a battle with cancer or facing any of life’s hardships. In these moments, it can feel like you’re adrift in a storm, fighting the waves of fear, doubt, and uncertainty. But just as a sailor sends an SOS signal when they’re lost at sea, we too need to reach out during times of distress.

SOS is more than just an emergency call; it’s an invitation for help, a cry that signals we are ready to be held, guided, and lifted. The key, however, lies in how we choose to send out that SOS. We can call out for support through the creative power of prayer, meditation, and writing—each a unique tool that helps us navigate the darkness and rediscover the light.

When I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, there were many moments when I felt uncertain and afraid. But it was in those moments that I learned the profound importance of reaching out, of asking for help—not just from others, but from something bigger than myself. Whether it was through writing my memoir, Cancer Ramblings, or through my daily prayer and meditation rituals, I found that these practices became my way of sending out an SOS to the universe, to my own heart, and to the power of love that exists beyond our understanding.

Why We Need to Send Our SOS:

1. The Mind Requires an SOS In the depths of illness and life’s challenges, the mind can become trapped in cycles of fear and worry. We can feel isolated in our distress, convinced that we’re fighting our battles alone. The truth, however, is that by opening ourselves up to the power of prayer, meditation, and creative expression, we invite healing and connection. Our SOS doesn’t have to be loud or dramatic; it can simply be an invitation to trust, to pause, and to invite love and guidance into our hearts.
2. The Power of Love Love has a transformative power. It connects us to others, to ourselves, and to something beyond our individual experience. By practicing rituals that allow us to tune into love—whether through prayer, meditation, or writing—we remind ourselves that we are never truly alone. When we extend our SOS to the universe, we open the door for that love to grab hold of us and guide us to a place of healing, strength, and clarity.
3. Creativity as an SOS Writing, in particular, became my own way of reaching out. Through the process of writing Cancer Ramblings, I was able to translate my fear and doubt into something tangible, something that could not only heal me but also serve others who are going through similar struggles. Creativity becomes a bridge, a way to communicate our inner most fears, but also our hope, resilience, and transformation. It’s our way of telling the world: "I need help," while simultaneously offering our stories to those who may need to hear them most.

So, if you’re facing a challenge, no matter how big or small, know that your SOS is valid. It’s not a weakness, but an invitation for love, light, and healing to enter. Reach out—through writing, prayer, meditation—and trust that in doing so, you’ll find the strength to rise.

Gratitude from the Heart ??

Thank you all for the overwhelming support and kind words about Cancer Ramblings. Your belief in this book is something I deeply cherish.

I encourage you to snap up a picture and send it my way as I would LOVE to share you and yours in my weekly newsletter.

When you purchase Cancer Ramblings, you’re helping share a message of resilience and empowerment with those facing their own battles, whether with cancer or life’s other struggles. Your support is not just for me—it’s for anyone in need of hope and strength. I’m truly grateful for each of you on this journey.

With love, light and gratitude,

Sandy Duarte www.CancerRamblings.com

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