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

Pricey Beloved Types,

I’ve been considering about how to update all of you on my chemotherapy treatment plans this summertime, which just so come about to have fallen ideal smack dab in the center of turning into a Beth Millner Jewellery ambassador. For a though I wasn’t sure if it was the worst timing or the greatest timing when I was chosen, but then I realized that this is precisely how daily life goes: you really don’t get to pick the timing of your life’s issues or your opportunities. You only have manage on how you pick to think about them, and how or if you choose to act upon them. For instance, I could say that breast cancer is the worst factor or the very best detail which is transpired to me, because each are correct. Surgical treatment and chemo aren’t particularly matters that individuals hurry to indication up for, but at the same time, which is exactly what it took to find how several angels I have in my corner and how form and generous and thoughtful the 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 needed to signal up for, sponsored by the club I’d never ever required to be a part of (breast cancer), I have understood a own fact: marathons suck. I signify, I’m guaranteed there’s at the very least just one man or woman out there who enjoys functioning so much that they search ahead to beating the crap out of their bodies for miles and miles, and that perhaps there’s some unusual runner’s euphoria I have nevertheless to tap into, but dang! Not gonna lie, it was easier at the beginning when you’re at the commencing line and there are a gazillion of your bystander peeps observing you and cheering you on. And I’m guaranteed there will be just as many there waiting around for me to cross the complete line. But when you’re on mile 8 of 12, and there aren’t as numerous persons on the sidelines seeing you anymore, your managing receives pretty hideous, and so do your thoughts. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen losing hear from chemo treatment

 

And speaking of that, there’s very little that’ll stir up your notions of attractiveness and ugliness very like a great round of balding chemo. But then once again, which is the whole place of this tale, a reminder that we have complete management of how we decide on to see a thing, and we can possibly seize an opportunity or let it go us by. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen losing hair from chemo treatment

I really do not know about you, but considering that I didn’t strategy on owning all my hair fall out a number of periods in my existence, I figured now was the likelihood to flip a couple lemons into lemonade. 

It was a couple of months in the past when I was equipped to get started pulling all my hair out in clumps, fairly significantly suitable on schedule, close to “mile 4” in the marathon. I understood that as hard as it was, I’d need to make peace with declaring goodbye to my hair, as “unpretty” as that could possibly make me experience, and I’d experienced a amazing strategy that would distract me sufficient to get by way of at the very least the upcoming couple miles. 

I was going to laugh my way by means of the overall detail, and I was going to make absolutely sure that someone else benefited from it, much too. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen losing hair from chemo treatments

And that’s just what I did. I went out on social media and informed all my friends that for each individual $20 they donated, that they’d get their names put in a hat for a big drawing, and that the person whose identify was drawn would get the honor of picking out the design that my Mumma would attract on the again of my bald head, when I’d shaved off all my hair. The proceeds ended up break up equally in between the Delta County Most cancers Alliance and Wildlife Unrestricted of Delta County. With each other my angels lifted practically $2,500 to split in between two of my favorite charities!

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen with a new short haircut

It took me 3 haircuts this 12 months to get to my bald canvas. Individuals of you who knew me 6 months back knew that I had very long hair down to my lessen back again, so my hair was a large portion of my id. I donated the first foot of it to Little ones With Hair Reduction, so that somebody else would be capable to put on a wig that I was ready to expand for them myself. I’d done this when just before and experienced determined that once my hair reaches a sure size, I’m heading to hold performing this right until I’m no lengthier about to hold escalating it. Feel of all the wigs that’ll be out in the world soon after so quite a few several years! Helps make me smile. 

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

My second haircut social gathering was heading from my shortened bob haircut duration to tomboy length, which was amazingly more difficult than likely pool-cue bald. It’s possible it reminded me of the very last time I’d had my hair this short in next grade, a minimal child mistook me for a boy, and my psyche never ever recovered. It’s possible it is due to the fact I just don’t assume small, shorter hair is all that flattering on me. Whatever the explanation, I had to power-smile my way via that complete 7 days before the actual shave took area, and that gave me a cleanse slate in a lot more techniques than one particular. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen with a freshly shaved head

Practically nothing states “I love you” very like your good hairdresser mate agreeing to change you into a bowling ball (I’ve been informed I have a beautifully spherical head) and your 75-12 months-old mom agreeing to attract some thing on the back again of your head for charity. And that is precisely what they did. The gal whose identify experienced been drawn required a hummingbird and a pink breast cancer ribbon in the layout, and thinking about that the canvas was moveable pores and skin protected in a light stubble, I feel my mother seriously kicked ass on the finished products! 

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

It is been two months running all around my corner of the globe with no hair, and the portion I haven’t stated right up until now, simply because I’ve been much too occupied pretending that getting bald is a full hoot and a hilarious experience, is that oh boy, there are times when I sense sooooooo hideous. I have place a few photos of my new design out on social media, and lots of people have commented on how beautiful I appear. But I do not truly imagine them. I’m convinced that they are expressing it just to make me come to feel greater, since, you know, Mile 8. The component exactly where I’m “ugly running” and persons don’t have time to sit there on the sidelines and cheer me on each second of the working day due to the fact they have their have life to are living. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen's mom painting her head

I understood with out a doubt that I’d have hideous times all over this marathon. The thing is, even when you know there will be struggles uphill, occasionally you don’t see them coming until eventually you’re ideal smack dab in the middle of one. And all you can do is admit the hill, suck it up, buttercup, and hold plodding due to the fact faster or later on the ground will be stage once more. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen during chemo treatment

The splendor I have been in a position to acquire with me on this marathon considering the fact that the commencing is my Beth Millner items. Whether I have had long hair or quick hair or no hair, they’ve been with me for the complete marathon, like a talisman guarding me from experience hideous or from feeling like a total failure. They remind me of so numerous lifetime lessons I want to study this time around. When I head into each individual chemo mile marker, I’ve obtained a distinct do the job of art accompanying me. One particular week it is my bumblebee pedant, reminding me to continue to keep chaotic and to hold shifting. The upcoming it could possibly be my heart pendant, reminding me of all the love and help I’m using with me into every of these sessions. One more is my butterfly selection, symbolizing the changes that I’m going by means of. Perhaps I’m feeling hideous at this phase of my journey simply because which is how it is intended to go, like how the caterpillar could sense right before it cocoons. But appear at how I’ll be remodeled at the close of this marathon!

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen enjoying life while undergoing cancer treatment

I’m wanting forward to sharing with you my finish line, my transformation, and my tale as it continues to unfold. I have usually claimed that my goal is to lead these an strange and attention-grabbing lifestyle so that I’ll have really good tales to tell when I’m 100 yrs old in the nursing residence, and boy, is this calendar year at any time developing! Thank you, my angels and cheerleaders, for placing yourselves along my marathon route and rooting for me. 

Beth Millner Jewelry Ambassador Kristen enjoying life while undergoing cancer treatment

Coincidentally, subsequent 7 days you could pretty much cheer me on, if you’re in the Escanaba-Gladstone place. My partner Todd and godson Noah and I are all “competing” in the MISH mini-triathlon on August 27. Noah will be doing the 3-mile kayak part, I will be biking 13.5 miles, and Todd will be running the 5k finale. I’m not guaranteed I’ll be breaking any records for velocity on Saturday, but you can most assuredly depend on me not being a quitter. 

Let’s go, Workforce G! 

Be delighted, be well.

Kris G

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