WINSTON WEEKLY[1]

Vol. 2, No. 25

June 23, 2024

CAPACITY

Although I am not much of a “royal watcher,” I was drawn to the balcony pictures from Trooping the Colour last weekend. Perhaps it was Prince Louis’ many faces that reminded me of my son at his age. I wish I could tell you that 20 years later, he has outgrown his propensity for funny faces and occasionally questionable behavior in public, but not entirely.

Unfortunately, the balcony pictures resulted in some questioning whether Princess Kate was really undergoing chemotherapy. The comments ranged from how she could have her hair to looking “perfectly fine” to questioning why she was still absent from her “duties.”  Although I am not an expert in chemotherapy, at least not from a medically trained standpoint, I have navigated chemotherapy and helped numerous others navigate their journey. Some have lost hair, some have experienced bloated bellies that never recover, some have troublesome skin issues, some have “brain fog” years after stopping treatment, and others are as cognitively healthy as they were before treatment. The list goes on and on.[2]

If there is one constant that I and others know from chemotherapy, it is the loss of capacity. Collins Dictionary defines capacity as “the ability to do it, or the amount that you are able to do.” The reasons for loss of capacity range from chronic fatigue to generally feeling unwell, to anemia, pain, and the mental and emotional toll of the unknown and information overload. On any given day, one can look great and feel lousy, hair or no hair. On any given day, one can look and feel lousy. It never occurred to me to question whether Princess Kate was undergoing chemotherapy. Aside from it not being my business, the capacity to navigate chemotherapy or any other medical treatment can vary significantly.  

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Consider what capacity means to you, and what it might mean to others. I gained different perspectives on capacity from books gifted by friends, including a set by Dr. Joe Dispenza (drjoedispenza.com), and Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day by Kate Bowler. Many authors featured in PR From the Heart’s Children’s Spotlight Series, https://prfromtheheart.com, provide perspectives for children and adults alike. Helpful children’s books also include the Big Tree is Sick by Nathalie Slosse and Maybe Tomorrow by Charlotte Agell.

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[1] Copyright June 23, 2024. Please feel free to share with the appropriate attribute. Alysen’s views are her own.

[2] National Library of Medicine, Hair loss in chemotherapy, Jan. 11, 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; American Cancer Society, hair loss and other side effects, https://www.cancer.org.