Yeah, the news is bad, keep dwelling on the blessings.

So, we all know how much it sucks out there. Nobody has money. Nobody knows if their job (should they still have one) is going to be there next week.

Schools are being cut to ribbons. Teachers and parents are sick about all the potential loss for our kids. Our worlds have been turned upside down here in California, especially, by all the education cuts.

It's grim, out there, no doubt.

The news relentlessly blares bleak statistics at us. Our saturation for learning we've all been that much more screwed over just seems bottomless, sometimes.

But, listen, folks. Don't give in to the pity party we all so richly deserve, because -- trust me -- it could be so much worse.

Turn off the radio or television and take a deep breath and hug your loved ones that much closer.

Things are bad, but never forget to count your blessings. Never.

Some of you may know who I'm going to talk about but, in case you don't, it's not me.

But, imagine if you learned that even although you've lived a healthy, positive, wonderful life and are surrounded by an amazing, loving family including three wonderful young children under the age of 7...that the life you've been busy building and are not remotely done living is actually facing a serious crisis.

This is what happened to someone I know. Someone amazing.

They happen to be a beloved member of my extended family, however let me categorically state that I would have chosen this person to be my best friend even if they were not family.

This person is exceptional. And I love her and I love her family and I can't believe this is happening. She's eight years younger than I am. This isn't supposed to be happening to any young mother, let alone one as full of laughter and humor and wildness and wisdom as this woman. No way. Does not compute.

Imagine you have a baby and you're tired chasing after a toddler with two young ones to chase as well, so you go in and get your first mammogram. Imagine that within one month you discover that out you are not just sick, but very sick. Crazy bad - sick. The kind of sick in your worst nightmares. What then?

What if you were to learn that it isn't the lump in the breast that's bad, it's the cancer in your lung that's bad. The cancer in your lymph nodes. In your liver. What's bad is that you actually don't feel that bad, but still discover that you are filled with aggressive breast cancer.

What then? What would you do then?

Well, this person turned around and wrote us all a letter and is propping everyone else up. This person has not one iota of self-pity or weakness. She's a pillar of strength.

And we can all learn from her feisty, courageous journey into survival. I have no doubt this person is going to kick cancer's ass.

And what this teaches me is that forget about about the national pity-party we could give in to just now, real people all around us are deal with real problems, so if it isn't you, then make sure you're helping them out. Because sooner or later, we will have our own crisis to deal with and we'll need them to be there for us, to throw us back the same rope, tomorrow, that we threw them, today.

It teaches me to find courage in dark times. And to stop dwelling on what we don't have, but what we do have, right now.

In these bleak, relentlessly challenging times, we must dig down into the rich fertile soil of our souls and find a way to bloom and flourish. We must. There isn't another choice. Screw "dire." Seize life.

Fight for all the miracles in your life, all the tiny ones, no matter how small to the big juicy ones.

Now, I happen to one of those fools who do believe in miracles, but, right now -- I need to hear that miracles do happen from others. Especially breast cancer miracles.

So, if you have a miracle to share about surviving life-threatening illnesses, then please share your stories about surviving, now. Share your survival tale, because stories save people.

People need hope these days, more than ever. Some people more than others.

Count your blessings. Dwell on them.



* These are a few images I captured having on the way home from our Thanksgiving with our family earlier this year.