Hobo’s Question of the Day

How informed are you about your families medical history and did you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Throughout the entire month of October, Hobo will play the role of the health “nagger” and remind everyone about the importance of not only being educated and informed about your own personal medical history, but the importance to know about your family’s medical history.
Statistics have indicated that:

From the years of 2001-2004, the reported incidents of breast cancer have decreased by as much as 3.5% per year.

In the year of 2008, in the U.S. alone approximately 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed.

In 2008, 40,480 women in the U.S. were expected to die from a diagnosis of breast cancer.

National levels have declined. However, for African –American women the rates of decline is slower and the death rate following a diagnosis has showed indications of an increase.

A women’s risk of breast cancer increases if she has a first-degree relative female who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Statistics still continue to indicate that early detection is of the most importance. In 2008 approximately 2.5 million women in the U.S. survived a diagnosis of breast cancer.

So ladies, Hobo (A.K.A. health nagger) is asking all the ladies to remember the importance of taking the time out to know your family history, know your body, and most importantly take care of yourself. Also ladies during this month of awareness share your stories, information, and advice about the continued fight against Brest Cancer.

Looking for answers,

Hobo Bag
Real life, Real talk, Real women

Life's Journey

This weekend in Chicago was great! Finally, a glimpse of summer and some hot weather. Some people thought too hot and some thought it took too, too long to get here. I was of the latter, as I hate the cold. No matter what your outlook, the journey of life is still the same, but we take different paths. Right now in Chicago, it’s hot. Tomorrow may be cold. Seasons come and go and so do the seasons or our lives. Life’s journey is all about time. For some, too little, other’s too much and for some, it never begins. Life takes its own sweet time, but it is very fleeting and seems to pass by in an instant. This journey called life goes by so fast, and no one has come back from death to tell us how it is on the other side, so we must make this journey count. My daughter is ten and I still vividly see the chubby little toddler who has now grown into a mature tween.

So, no preaching, let’s just talk so we can make the most of this journey we have. A good friend told me that, if we work, we only have 168 hours of free time to ourselves during the week. A few weeks ago, friends and I were at a play that was going from bad to worse. We decided to leave at intermission and go for dessert. Our thought, did we really want to waste two more hours of our precious 168 hours on a play we did not care about. Right then and there, I became cognizant of with whom and how I spend my time. Ladies, let me tell you, it has been liberating and cleared up a lot of time in my calendar to do the things I want to do.

Obviously, we don’t know how much time we have and we really can’t worry about it. However, we can make sure that we live life to the fullest, at every moment. This may be difficult for some, but everyone can take stock of their lives, friends and work. This is very vital to living life to the fullest. Personally, I don’t have enough time to spend with the people I really want to be with (my husband, daughter, sisters, mother, girlfriends, etc.) all of the time. However, I do know that I am never going to spend it with negative, knuckle-headed, long-suffering people, again. I am going to be happy in work, life or whatever endeavor I decide to undertake and I will no longer accept negativity in any way shape or form.

Every night I am blessed to go to sleep knowing that I have been a good wife, mother, friend, sister, family member, etc. This sustains me in case I don’t wake up. I want people to really think about what sustains them and really ensure that their journey through life is everything they want it to be. Our legacy is not just for us, it is for everyone we encounter. Therefore, we want life’s journey and our legacy to be positive. So, ladies please take stock of your journey up to now and then decide how you want the rest of the ride to be……

Peace and Love

Sandals

Real life, Real Talk, Real Women

Sharing

Throughout our lives we share so much. Unfortunately, people tend to be very particular about who and what we share. Sometimes, this can be good and sometimes it can be bad. Particular if we have wisdom and knowledge to share that can help others and/or prevent them from making the same mistakes. Several years ago, I can remember a former co-worker that did not tell us that she was having problems and was on the verge of losing her house. The stress was affecting her job, work performance and family life. One night as we worked after hours, she broke down and let it out. The irony, we worked at a bank….I didn’t know what to do, but I knew she was a valued employee. I picked up the phone and called a VP and asked for assistance for this employee with a great track record. By taking action, I was able to get this employee the assistance she needed to save her home, job and family. It was not for any type of reward, it was for the sheer fact that I wanted to share whatever power I could to help someone in need. Once this was done, this employee talked to other African-American employees about asking for assistance and trusting people. I know it is very difficult to share and trust, but life is too short to live on island by yourself and/or keep things to yourself. During these uncertain times, we hear so much about asking for help, talking to creditors, talking to mortgage lenders, etc. We all need help and we all can help someone else. It is like kindergarten, “it is not over until everyone gets there milk and cookies. We have to help each other survive or else we are not going to be too successful in the end.

This blog is here to share our myriad of experiences. Some good, some bad and some downright funny. Whatever the stories, experience and knowledge that we impart, we do it with love. Love of life, love of family, love of friends and true love of the Sisterhood. We ask that you come along for the ride. Feel free to love, laugh, share and learn from our home grown wisdom. It may not be all right, but it is all ours.

Peace and love,

Sandals

Real Life, Real Talk, Real Women