‘Welcome to the Family’

There is an old saying that “you can choose your friends but not your family.” Although that saying may hold true for some, it does not when it comes to A Fresh Chapter. You see, Terri Wingham, founder of AFC, takes the time to have one-on-one conversations with applicants who apply to be a part of the “tribe,” as she describes us.

I have to admit, attending the ReFresh retreat helped me put a new perspective on being part of a family. Coming from a family of 13, to be exact, has always been special to me. When I met everyone for the first time, the one thing I knew we had in common was we were all touched by cancer. From the onset, I noticed the group dynamics were different from what I am accustomed to. I had my reservations that we would feel like a family, by the end of the retreat. Boy, was I wrong.

Learning to listen

One of the best aspects of the retreat for me was the idea of ‘holding space’ for the rest of the advocates. This simply meant being present, non-judgmental, having compassion and, above all, being a good listener. For reasons I cannot explain, sometimes I have had the tendency to have a response ready, before the person finishes their thought. This new type of engaging would be tricky for me. I was a little worried. Holding space was challenging at times. With lots of practice and retraining my mind not to respond, just listen, I yielded positive results. After gathering and sharing, listening and learning about our experiences and traditions, I saw us mold into a family. It was really magical! I now have 13 more sisters and another brother. What a blessing!

Whether you are affiliated with a large or small organization, A Fresh Chapter provides a wonderful space for individuals engaged in advocacy the opportunity to be refreshed.

I am looking forward to saying, “Welcome to the Family!”

Yvonne McLean Florence is the founder and President of Sisters R US Circle of Survivors, Inc., a 501c(3) non-profit organization with a special mission of supporting individuals impacted by a diagnosis of breast cancer.