Thursday, June 21, 2007

National author and dietitian FINALLY goes local!


I have flipped the headline "local author/dietitian/whatever finally makes it to the big time", as after 10+ years of speaking throughout the country promoting the benefits of proactively including nutrition as an individualized component of true comprehensive cancer care, I have made the decision to begin an open-ended "sabbatical" from the non-stop pace I have led for the past decade. The decision was both difficult and easy. It is simply "time" to do so.

However, I am not going away, just taking a much-needed break from the extensive traveling, speaking, presentation preparation, updating my web site (www.CancerRD.com), marketing my books (A Dietitian's Cancer Story plus the Spanish edition Historia De Cáncer De Una Dietista), national professional commitments, professional mentoring, consulting on research projects, etc, etc.

Academic sabbaticals usually have a defined time period and a specific focus and professional activity. One of my brothers made the logical suggestion that I could now finally take the time to actually write a cookbook. Even though such an idea may seem like a perfect fit for my sabbatical, I actually need to take significant and a still undefined amount of time to do "nothing"; in this case, nothing means spending more time with my family and friends, strolling at the Farmers' Market and getting to know my local farmers, enjoying planting and weeding our gardens, helping my husband can the tomatoes from our 45 heritage tomato plants (I stand corrected - we have 62 plants!), finally get my heirloom dried bean seeds in the ground (eek - today is summer's solstice already - I still have time but I had better not dilly-dally too much longer!), start to really tackle organizing my family photos (I am now at least a decade behind on that venture!), finally being home to keep my bird feeders full, attending my local Audubon Society meetings, joining my local Slow Food Movement group, even cleaning my house and closets (yes, finally!), etc, etc. I can go on and on and on!

So why am I starting a blog? It has been 12+ years since my second breast cancer diagnosis (I was only 34 the first time, 45 the second time) when I made significant changes to my diet and lifestyle (details are in my book A Dietitian's Cancer Story and on my web site www.CancerRD.com). I have been very fortunate to not have had a local or metastatic recurrence to date. I know I will always keep reading current research studying nutrition and lifestyle changes for cancer survivors. A blog will allow me to share the research studies and results plus my thoughts in a more timely and informal manner than my previous Email newsletters (which are all archived on www.CancerRD.com) and Q&A's on my web site. In addition, the blog allows me an opportunity to talk about other interests and activities of mine both as they develop and as I have the time and inclination.

I'm certainly not making any promises about the frequency of my posts, and while I will enjoy reading and thinking about all comments, I will not be responding to questions or individual inquiries (which would defeat my current goal of doing "nothing"). My blog will continue to develop in spurts, and I don't ever envision getting "fancy". Indeed, it just might be very small. Time will tell. Thus I am going to close this initial posting with one of my favorite quotations so that I can go enjoy this lovely summer evening. :-)

"No one could make a greater mistake than he who
did nothing because he could do only a little."
• Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797)

I hope you enjoy reading my little blog as much as I will enjoy writing it.
Diana Dyer, MS, RD

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm not a blogger, but after reading your newsletter for so many years I wanted to be sure to thank you for all your time spent helping, encouraging, and informing those of us who share our lives with a cancer patient/survivor. I will still continue to use your website for as long as you keep it going, but please enjoy your much deserved time to yourself. God bless you! Susan from Troy, MI

Anonymous said...

Hello, Although I have not had cancer, I have referred so many people to your book and over the years have purchased them for others. I want to thank you for the energy, time and commitment you have given, you have truly inspire me along with many others I made many changes in my eating, from your suggestions. Wishing you days of leisure and joyfulness. (I did anonymous only because I have never blogged before and do not have an identity)Lynn from Colorado

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for all that you have done for breast cancer patients. I have spent so much of the last 2 years researching since my second cancer diagnosis. Your book, website, and newsletters have been a Godsend along the way. Your research and expertise have guided my diet, given me inspiration, and helped rebuild my confidence. I just can't thank you enough for the difference that you have made in my life at a time that I needed that so much.

It’s good to hear that you are taking some time to nurture yourself now, too. May every moment restore you.

I hope you feel the warmth from all the candles of thankfulness that I’m sure our burning in the hearts of so many of us who have benefited from your work, your passion, and your encouragement.

Anonymous said...

I, too have been passing your book and website info on to many folks. Please enjoy your respite and when you come back to the speaker's circut it will be a great day! Never before did I see a standing ovation for a dietitian's presentation and I still get goosebumps thinking about it. Thank you for all you have done and all you will continue to do. I'm reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle right now as well. Barbara is just like you in that reading her work you feel as though you've found a friend. My prayers are with you. Karen from Hershey, PA

Anonymous said...

Enjoy your sabbatical-glad you made it open-ended. Have fun doing nothing-you've earned it and more!

Your hard work is appreciated by this dietitian!! You have been an inspiration and a wonderful resource for a fellow oncology dietitian.

Blessings to you today and the future.

Take care.

RD from Wisconsin

RD from Louisiana said...

Thank you for your heart to give when we needed you the most. My daughter (30 years old) who is a breast cancer survivor 5 years now (also a juvenile diabetic at the age of 11)is doing well thanks to your words of encouragement, recipes and sound nutrition information. Thank you, doesn't seem adequate for the help I have received. God Bless.

KT said...

Congratulations on a well-deserved break! I am a recent breast cancer survivor and have thoroughly enjoyed your newsletter. Am looking forward to learning more through your blog. (If you have a chance, stop by my blog: ktscoop.blogspot.com). I blogged throughout chemo, surgery, and radiation....it was very therapeutic!) Take care, Katie from Virginia

Anonymous said...

Thank you Diana for years of wonderful reading on the dreaded "C" word Cancer.
God Bless you and hope to read your Blog from time to time. Enjoy your break and do some traveling to places you always wanted to go to, but never had time. It's time for you now!!

Kathie from Macomb, MI

Renata said...

I was unaware of how little was known about cancer nutrition just 10 years ago. It's been 6 years since I did my clinical rotation for my internship. How easily we can take this information for granted. Thanks for doing your "little" part in this world. Enjoy your break.

Anonymous said...

BaPal RN said,
I have enjoyed the articles forwarded to me by my "MSRD"daughter. I am a Cancer survivor and appreciate your views and information. Thank you for your
work toward a certification for these wonderful Cancer center RDs who help so many!
Enjoy your rest and memories/
Bapal from Gulfport, MS

Diana Young, RD, LD, CDE said...

I am so glad to see another Dietitian blogging. Well, I have seen others, but they are few and far between. I am going to post a link to your site on my blog. You are an inspiration. Thanks.