Personal: Good News

I have known for 11 days now that I will not need to return to chemo. A full body Pet CT Scan taken January 13 shows that everything is stable and oral medication will continue to be my treatment. This is huge news, and I thought I would share for those of you concerned with my health.

My strength builds weekly and I have energy to do all kinds of activities; this means I spend less time in bed, and much less time online.

What about this blog?

My twelve-year-old self stood on a rooftop in South Lebanon in 1974 watching Israeli planes bomb Ain-el-Helweh. During times of crisis that twelve-year-old self emerges, shouting to the skies: this is wrong! It must stop! You don't understand what you are doing! You aren't making yourself safer and you're killing people who don't deserve to die!

Last week while reading the blogs on Israel's disastrous assault on Gaza, I realized: I don't have to keep trying to convince "them" anymore. Many, many more people "get it" than ever have in my lifetime. I haven't convinced everybody. I haven't convinced the men (and women) who give the orders to the fighter pilots and tank commanders. Lord knows if I've even convinced a single person who didn't already agree that killing people just creates more killing.

But one thing about this tragic war in Gaza: it has changed the climate. More people are waking up and realizing that war is not the answer in Palestine, Lebanon, Israel.

I'm not shutting down the blog but I am going to post less often. I am also going to focus more on the reality we want to create: peace and justice in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon - and America. Rather than focusing on the problems, focus on the solutions, the positive outcomes we want to see. I will post links to the many blogs, news organizations and non-profits that tell us what our mainstream media outlets overlook about the reality in Palestine - but I will devote my posts again to signs of hope, to visions for the world we want.

Comments

[Judy]

Leila congratuations on your good news!! Maybe venting the anger and despair you felt these past weeks was a good thing.

Here's to a hopeful future for us all!

[John Ballard]

Thanks be to God!

And keep up the good work. You have put up many good links and I often look to your corner to find more. I know you never take it for granted, but thanks to your unique multi-faceted ethnic and religious heritage you are a living illustration that trans-cultural identity can be more of an asset than a liability. You have something in common there with our new president.

[Patricia Storace]

It is a personal joy to read the good news of your health; I greatly value your work.

[Val]

Leila,
I am so happy for your health. That is fabulous news!

And I am happy as well about your decision to "focus on the problems, focus on the solutions, the positive outcomes we want to see. I will post links to the many blogs, news organizations and non-profits that tell us what our mainstream media outlets overlook about the reality in Palestine - but I will devote my posts again to signs of hope, to visions for the world we want."

Be the change you wish to see!

[ServingPatriot]

Il hamdu'allah!!

This news is exceptional and even if you post less, I will not be unhappy about it!

Thanks for all that you have shared and the very best wishes to you and your family.

SP

[Maloof]

I'm very happy to hear this news. You must do something special for yourself to celebrate your good fortune.

[nona]

O, frabjous day!!

[J. Otto Pohl]

This is excellent news. Where there is resistance there is hope. Where there is hope there is survival. Keep it up.

[Alison Chaiken]

That's wonderful. Enjoy your good health!

[mo]

Mabrouk wa hamdul'llah. Take the time off and enjoy not having to worry.

[Gloria P]

I am so happy for your health news, Leila. You have been through so much.

As far as peace, one would think that civilization had advanced far enough for us to know that killing is not the answer. Unfortunately greed, political ambition, religious fervor and nationalism are still strong enough to make peace a short-lived entity.

[Joyce Zonana]

I am so happy for you Leila. It must be, at least in part, your great spirit that is healing your body.

[fr7ty]

السلام عليكم

موقع أكثر من رائع شكرا لكم

موضوع جميل جدا يستحق القراءه

يوتيوب فيديو فرحتي

http://www.fr7ty.com

منتديات نسائيه

http://www.fr7ty.com/vb

[lennybruce]

Thank God for the great news about your health! Your new intended focus for your weblog sounds quite in synch with the health news. I wish you all the best and will continue to follow your weblog. Be well!

[Stephen Frug]

That's fabulous news about your health. Congratulations! And may things only continue to improve.

[Lindsay]

I am so happy for you and your family for the good news about your health. Good luck and I look forward to your future posts.

[taina]

I am happy for you about your improved health! It is wise to focus on the signs of hope; as an exceptionally healthy person who has been immersed in the crisis in Gaza and wracked by its atrocities, I can't imagine what a toll these repeated cycles of violence against Arabs has on someone who is not 100% well. I wish you well. Peace be upon you.

[الغالي]

هذا عالمي الخاص فلا يلومني أحد إن كتبت أشياء يعتقد البعض أنها شخصية محضة وليلوم نفسه إذ دفعته للفضول00

http://www.alqaly.com/vb

اتمني لك التوفيق

http://www.alqaly.com

[nastassja]

What excellent news! I've been in my own hole away from the world and am only now catching up on blogs. I'm so glad to read that you are doing well--and hope it only gets better and better :)