Christie Brinkley's Gratitude During The Holidays
- After surviving a helicopter crash in Telluride, Colorado, 30 years ago, experiencing a breast cancer scare and battling skin cancer this year, legendary model Christie Brinkley is more grateful than ever during the holidays.
- She was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer, after a concerning spot she often covered with makeup was examined. She ultimately had a skin cancer treatment procedure to remove the cancer and went public with her basal cell carcinoma journey.
- Prior to that, she experienced a frightening breast cancer scare which inspired her to write a children’s book.
- Gratitude is a mindset that helps people face adversity and builds resilience, according to experts we spoke to. It means being thankful for what you have and showing appreciation for it. Several studies have indicated that learning to live with gratitude can lead to more happiness and less stress.
- One way to exercise gratitude is to take time to think about things you appreciate every day. One way to exercise gratitude in your life includes writing down those things in a journal.
Brinkley—who previously battled skin cancer, endured a breast cancer scare, and survived a helicopter crash in Telluride, Colorado—took to social media just days before the Christmas to share some sweet photos of her holding up a large wreath, meeting up with an old friend, and spending time in Bridgehampton, New York, looking for a Christmas tree and decorations.
Read MoreBrinkley continued, “And I love bumping into friends like @sassalosborne at one of my favorite places @marderslandscaping and btw [by the way] getting compliments everywhere I went on my @twrhll_ Fair Isle sweater from my collection (available @hsn ) it’s giving cozy cabin vibes!View this post on Instagram
“Perfect gift too! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas Everyone!”
Earlier this month Brinkley also shared a photo she took of the colorful sky, featuring hues of purple, pink, yellow, and orange.
She captioned the post, “A beautiful sunset that just wouldn’t quit! It kept changing and evolving sometimes looking like the inside of an Abalone shell, sometimes an Indian blanket,Jupiter then and cotton candy!
“Hope you had a great one wherever you were too!”
Expert Resources On The Power of Positivity & Gratitude
- How Can Gratitude Lead to a Healthier Mindset?
- ‘Family, Friends & Faith’: Ovarian Cancer Survivor Diana Faison Keeps it Positive
- Michael J. Fox’s Determination to Remain Positive During Decades-Long Parkinson’s Journey Shows Cancer Patients the Importance of Optimism
- SurvivorNetTV Presents: ‘True North’ — A Story of Formidable Obstacles and Unwavering Determination
Brinkley also took to Instagram to celebrate “Thanksgiving Leftovers Day!” last month, sharing a family photo and writing, “I love that this holiday gets us thinking positive!”
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She continued, “We’re all counting the things we are grateful for and it really makes the priorities so clear! No matter the losses or disappointments when we count our blessings we know how rich we are when we have each other!
“Family, friends, pecan pie, laughter and love. What more could you want? Well… maybe a little slice of pumpkin pie?”
We’re delighted to see the 5-foot-9 mom of three, who is the only person to have three consecutive covers of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues [in 1979, 1980, and 1981], acknowledging her appreciate for life and all it has to offer as she nears her 71st birthday.
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Christie Brinkley’s Battle With Skin Cancer & Breast Cancer Scare
Brinkley recently had surgery after being diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer.
She shared some photos of her skin on March 13, captioning her post, “The good news for me is we caught the basal cell Carcinoma early. And I had great Doctors that removed the cancer and stitched me up to perfection like an haute couture Dior.
“The good news for you is that all of this can be avoided by being diligent with your sun protection! I got serious a bit late so now for this ole mermaid/gardener, I’ll be slathering on my SPF 30, reapplying as needed, wearing long sleeves and a wide brim hat. And doing regular total body check ups..that is a MUST!”
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She added, “I was lucky to find mine, because I was accompanying one of my daughters to HER check up .. The Doctor was looking at each freckle with a magnifying glass… it wasn’t my appointment so I wasn’t going to say anything but at the VERY end I asked if he could just look at a little tiny dot I could feel as I applied my foundation. He took a look and knew immediately it needed a biopsy! He did it then and there!
“So make your own good luck by making that check up appointment today. And slather up my friends!”
Meanwhile the Monroe, Michigan native, never actually fought breast cancer, but she did go through a frightening breast cancer scare along with her mother.
She told The Associated Press in 1999, “Both my mom and myself had scares, and thank goodness, neither of us had cancer. But those two incidents gave me just a little teeny glimpse of what it’s like to have the fear and the rush of emotions.”
The cancer scare inspired Brinkley’s introduction she wrote in a free children’s book, written by Laura Numeroff, called “Kids Talk,” from the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
“The book addresses those fears and explains breast cancer through cute illustrations and in words children can understand,” Brinkley said, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Brinkley’s ‘Life-Altering’ Helicopter Crash
Brinkley also recently posted a magazine cover photo from the 1990s featuring a photo of herself following a frightening helicopter crash in Telluride, Colorado.
The entrepreneur, who resides in the Hamptons, on Long Island, New York, shared a throwback cover of People magazine, reading, “The helicopter crash that nearly killed Christie Brinkley.”
The magazine cover quoted Brinkley recalling her thoughts during the crash, which read, “Oh, my god, we’re crashing! I’m going to die.”
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She captioned the post, “This life altering milestone happened 30 years ago today! But the years have not diminished my gratitude for the gift of each and every day I am blessed with.
“None of us have any guarantees, fate can come knocking at any moment, so live laugh and make sure your friends and family know how much you love them because in the end it’s only LOVE that matters.”
She concluded, “Thank you to my heroes who rescued us @tellurideski #richarddick a special thank you and #tellurideskipatriol #love #life #fate #liveeachday #momentoftruth #family #friends #telluride.”
The magazine issue was dated April 18, 1994, and also included a photo of Brinkley with an injury from the shock accident, with a splint on her left wrist.
Brinkley was just 40 years old when the potentially fatal accident took place. It happened during a heli-skiing tour in the San Juan mountain range with some friends, People reports.
The incident took place about an hour into their trip and 12,800 feet up a mountain, and thankfully resulted in minimal injuries.
When they reached the peal of the mountain the helicopter took a sharp turn and ultimately dropped 200 feet down a 40-degree incline, as per People, who interviewed Brinkley following the incident.
Living with gratitude after cancer
Like Brinkley, many cancer survivors find themselves with a different and more appreciative outlook on life after going through treatment.
However, many medical professionals will tell you, anecdotally, that living with gratitude can make a huge difference while going through treatment as well.
Dr. Zuri Murrell explains how living with gratitude can lead to a healthier mindset.
“Patients who do well with cancer, they live life with that kind of gratitude,” Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal cancer surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told SurvivorNet in a previous conversation.
“…They’re grateful, not for cancer, but for an opportunity to know that life is finite … they appreciate it for one of the first times ever because they know it may not be forever that they get to do this.”
Handling Fear When You Get the Diagnosis
Overcoming Adversity
Overcoming adversity can seem daunting. Many people think reciting upbeat mottos or pretending to be cheerful will help, but these solutions can make someone feel even more dejected than before. Instead, pay attention to the following steps to make meaningful change.
1. Set a goal. No matter what the situation, create a new goal for yourself. If you have just been diagnosed with cancer or a chronic illness, perhaps one goal would be to educate yourself about the disease and the possible treatments as much as possible.
2. Make a plan. How will you achieve this goal? Your plan will help you focus on that goal. Dr. Siddhartha Ganguly refers to this determined, focused mindset as “the eye of the tiger,” which can help people dealing with health problems, such as lymphoma and other cancers. “You have to have the eye of the tiger to go through this grueling process that is necessary these days to get rid of these virulent and aggressive cancers,” Dr. Ganguly, a cancer specialist at Houston Methodist, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
3. Rely on others. Spend time with people who show you unconditional support and encouragement. They will alleviate your stress and help you remember that you’re not alone in this! Dr. Samantha Boardman, a psychiatrist and author, previously told SurvivorNet that one “coping strategy that can be productive is reaching out and talking to others. Having support we know is really critical in the healing process.”
4. Use positive self-talk. Leave messages with affirmations in places you frequent. Put notes around your mirror or the computer screen that say “You got this!” or “Keep going!” Cut out inspirational quotes from people you admire and surround yourself with their words. Dr. Boardman explained to SurvivorNet that “Positive emotions have unique benefits above and beyond managing negative emotions.”
Resilient learning to overcome any obstacle
Helpful Information About Breast Cancer Screening
The medical community has a consensus that women between 45 and 54 have annual mammograms. However, an independent panel of experts called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is saying that women should start getting mammograms every other year at the age of 40, suggesting that this lowered the age for breast cancer screening could save 19% more lives.
For women aged 55 and older, the American Cancer Society recommends getting a mammogram every other year. However, women in this age group who want added reassurance can still get annual mammograms.
Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, have dense breasts, have a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as a BRCA gene mutation, or a medical history, including chest radiation therapy before age 30, are considered at higher risk for breast cancer.
Mammograms Are Still the Best Tool for Detecting Breast Cancer
Experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
Breast density is determined through mammograms. However, women with dense breasts are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer because dense breast tissue can mask potential cancer during screening. 3D mammograms, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and molecular breast imaging are options for women with dense breasts for a more precise screening. It is important to ask your doctor about your breast density and cancer risk.
It’s also important to know that about ten percent of breast cancers are hereditary, says Dr. Ophira Ginsburg, Director of the High-Risk Cancer Program at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.
Although breast cancer can happen to anyone, certain factors can increase a person’s risk of getting the disease. The known risk factors for breast cancer include:
- Older age
- Having a gene mutation such as the BRCA1 or BRCA2
- Added exposure to estrogen
- Having children after the age of 30
- Exposure to radiation early in life
- Family history of the disease
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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