Ricki Lake’s goal for 2020 is to be free and real. The former talk show host and actress revealed a new haircut on social media and she looks beautiful!
She also put everyone’s mind at ease by letting her followers know that she is not sick.
Ricki then opened up about her struggles with hair loss and depression, which has caused major pain in her life — but today is a new day and the start of a good year.
We are so proud of Ricki for being strong and opening up about her struggles. Hopefully her message will give others who may be dealing with the same issues courage to be free and real.
This is for Vicki Lake, who I use to watch years ago and I read her story, so wanted to share mine;
Without questioning, when going through a serious illness, or a period of depression, you learn to know what faith truly is, along with finding the true meaning of beauty and how you really feel about yourself. I know this all too well, because I’ve experienced many trials and tribulations in my life. Through it all, I gain strength that I never knew I had, and much more confidence in myself, which led me to loving myself all over again. I had a new beginning, all on my own.
After going through so much in my life, things begin to go pretty well, until it happened. No, I wasn’t hit with depression, I was hit with a head-on collision with not only breast cancer, but colon cancer as well, and it changed my entire outlook on life. Of course I had many depressed moments. I thought I had it rough years before, but going through cancer was the rest of the iceberg. There’s nothing like it. You wonder, what in life had you done so wrong to have this placed upon you. You began asking, why me. Yet through my tragedies and all that I had to endure, it all became an awakening for me, in which I received and gain all the strength and encouragement I needed to conquer. Through it all, not only did I find the true meaning of life, I found the true meaning of beauty. Through all the chemo, radiation, the pain I endured, I still felt beautiful. I found myself looking in the mirror even more during this time, because I thought what I was dealing with would change me drastically, but as I viewed the imperfections I now have to live with, the surgery sites and all, over time it got better, and instead of feeling sorry for myself, I embrace it all. I’m still among the living, who am I to complain.
Whether we’re dealing with an illness, or as you’ve stated, deep depression at times, where you maybe suicidal, having negative feelings about ourselves, our lives and our bodies, we need to be our on cheering section. Through all my mishaps, I still feel beautiful and it’s real. I’ve come to realize that even going through such a dark time in my life, I still have a life to be lived, and I’m going to live it to the fullest. When I think about the individuals that are no longer among us due to such a horrific disease, I’m truly grateful, and I will no longer take my life for granted, it’s too precious. When I think of the “gift of life” that was given to me twice over, I knew I didn’t have a moment to waste. I would never say having or going through cancer and what you’re going through is a gift, surviving it, receiving a second and third chance at life, is the gift. Yet, through it all, I didn’t allow the disease to take away who I am, or what I stand for. I’m a survivor, you’re a survivor, as well as an example to show that it can happen, and that we can go on, look and feel just as beautiful inside, as well as out, and it shines brighter.
Yet through my tragedies and all that I had to endure, it all became an awakening for me, which I believe it has for you now. I received and gain all the strength and encouragement I needed to conquer. I will say, that the areas of my body that was interrupted, will be a constant reminder I had cancer, and at times, it does bothers me, I’m human, but within a moment or two, I look past it, because those areas could be covered up. True beauty is within and when you feel beautiful on the inside, it shows so clearly on the outside. Just because I had cancer, doesn’t mean cancer had me. We as women should never allow anything, or any circumstance to steal our joy, nor our self-esteem. And I know with cancer and what you’ve dealt with, many times you’re too weak, don’t feel up to it, to even think about your looks, because you’re not feeling your best, believe me, I know; but sometimes you have to try and fight past it, and keep living. Through any tragedy, we are and always will be beautiful and unique! Women, we all know that our bodies take lickings, yet we keep on ticking.
When I now look back at it all, I must say, I thought right away that my cancer diagnose was truly a death sentence, because you’re not sure if you’re going to make it or not. I’m sure you’ve felt that way. Cancer have taught me not to blink twice at life, my eyes are wide open, living life to the fullest. I also realized after surviving cancer both times, that I was about to face new beginnings, new hope, do and see more with a whole new prospective on life. I share my story with others hoping to make a positive impact on someone who’s ill or otherwise, where they can proceed life in a whole new way. I’m 63yrs of age now, and I’m cherishing each day, each moment, and through it all, I feel that I’m still at my best. I’m confident with myself, as well as grateful. I’m starting over, doing things I should have done before cancer.
One day, part of my many surgeries, during my breast cancer period, and I could remember it as if it was yesterday, I experienced something so real, so peaceful, something of a miracle, that I had to write it down. I turned that experience into a poem and I called it “Peace”, writing had become therapy for me. I recently had a book published titled, “Cancer, Yet Cancer Again, but I will not Die, before I’m Dead”. I titled it that, because I truly feel that you shouldn’t stop living, because you have cancer, or any other illness, but that’s exactly how I felt when I heard the word cancer.
So hopefully you’re remember, my scars and mishaps, your missing hair are just that, and they’re symbols for someone else’s inspiration and hope. I’m a true example that you can survive cancer, not once, but twice, providing you get to it in time. You’re a true example that you can survive depression. I’m not saying all will be easy, I’m not saying all will survive it, what I am saying, is to have faith, fight with all you have, then hold on. I truly believe when and if you survive a horrific tragedy or a horrible disease such as cancer, it’s for a reason. You have a purpose, and through that purpose, faith, compassion and strength, true beauty is born. The real you is present, and people can take it leave it. God Bless!
Ricki I have a grandaughter that has lost all of her hair for no apparent reason. We are taking her to a doctor but am worried to death as to why her hair falls out. This is such an inspiring story about you. Thanks for sharing