Nora J Mason

Where were you nine months ago today?  It was a cold, sunny day in January. The New Year had just begun, and we had resolutions to be better and make a difference in the world. Do you remember? I did not know it at the time, but cancer had been growing inside of me. I scheduled my annual mammogram in the morning. Every year I go, but 2020 was different. The doctor told me, “you have breast cancer.”   Weekend plans came to a halt. Plans to launch my own business came to a halt. Everything came to a halt and I felt numb. This was all before COVID. Nine months have passed and today, I am different than I was on that cold winter day. I move slower and more purposefully. I look at things different. I am grateful for sunshine, and I am grateful for rain. I am grateful for smiles, and grateful for tears. I am grateful for family and friends, and I am grateful for strangers, especially those who sit with me at the cancer center while the chemo drips through their port to kill the c...

People tell me I am strong. Most days I wonder what that really means.  When I googl ed Strength, it reads, Strength  is the property of being physically strong (you can do, say, 100 push-ups) or mentally strong (you can calculate percentages in your head while people are shouting at you).   Well, I surely can’t do 100 push-ups, nor can I calculate percentages in my head, so why do people say I am so strong? When you are thrown a major curve ball, or when your life takes an unexpected turn, or when you are diagnosed with cancer, you feel alone (at least I did). You have to be strong to deal with the road ahead. You need strength to navigate the journey which you never chose to take. I found this quote which seems to apply to my mantra for the past six months. “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the ONLY choice you have.” If you don’t dig deep to find that strength, the loneliness and sadness can consume you. We all are dealin...

Today, I am grateful for today. With each sunrise, I am more grateful for today. Whether it is the morning sun on the garden, the The Mason's fresh air blowing in through the open windows or the sunshine beaming through the front door, I take notice of a new day. Whether it is my teacup waiting for me, sitting alongside the hot water kettle, or hearing Maggie’s paws dancing down the hallway on the hardwood floors, I stop to appreciate and be grateful for today. Today, I am grateful for the social distanced gatherings with friends at the lake, the smell of fresh baked bread in the oven, the family and friends gathered outside the window of the Leever Cancer Center - even the NBC Connecticut cameraman - and the colorful driveway when I returned from round #6 of chemo. I am grateful for walks in the neighborhood, the herbs in the garden and all five Mason's under one roof.    Last of the chemo's...the view from my window! Our driveway after Round #...

Nothing gives me more joy, more satisfaction, more fulfillment...more anxiety, more frustration, and more fear, than being a Mom. From the moment I knew I was pregnant, I was in love with being a Mom. Knowing that I would have the privilege to care for, to nurture, to teach each of our boys, was (and still is) overwhelming. Linda Wooten wrote, "Being a Mother is learning about strengths you didn't know you had...and dealing with fears you didn't know existed." Friends say I am strong. As a Mom, I have discovered what strong really means. Being a Mom has taught me more about life (and myself) than any college degree or job. This job requires no training or degree, yet it is the most challenging role you will assume in your lifetime. With each day that passes, I continue to learn more. I have made many mistakes along the way, but with each step I have taken, or decision made, I have become stronger and learned more about myself. Mahatma Gandhi said, ...

“I’ve realized why we are here,” whispered the boy. “For cake?” asked the mole. “To love,” said the boy. “And to be loved,” said the horse. If you have not yet opened the book, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse , by Charlie Mackesy, please take ten minutes to read. You will not be disappointed. There is such profound meaning in the few words and images on these pages. Today I am grateful for LOVE. For the love I have given and the love I continue to receive each day. For the love of my family, who I am surrounded by on this journey. For the love I receive from my extended family, through virtual hugs, emails, texts, phone calls and acts of kindness. We all have the ability to love and to be loved. Start with yourself and be kind to yourself. Extend kindness to others and I hope you feel the love that surrounds you. We all need to remember that we are not alone and that when dark clouds come, we keep going, surrounded by those who give us love and those we love....

My first post (bear with me I have a few months to cover)... 2020 got off to a great start with so many things to be GRATEFUL for... My family ...Michael, Zach, Sam and Ben who fill my life with love, excitement, never a dull day , and the pure joy and fulfillment that only a mom can know! My family and friends ...Mom, Dad, Brenda, Katie and Ed...and everyone in the O'Sullivan Family, The Mason's, the Losure's...and all of you who I consider  our chosen family who have enriched my life just by being you. My life with Michael ...what more can I say other than we have been blessed! My experiences supporting those with intellectual disabilities who have brought me such joy ...you all know who you are! Nora J Mason LLC which I finally had the confidence to launch in December 2019 and to WORX Branding for helping me to create my new brand. I am a passionate social entrepreneur who has dedicated my life to working with not-for-profit organi...