Fix-it-Pink was asked by the President of Reach for Recovery, to give a motivational talk and interactive DIY demonstration to the 38 ladies from the Reach for Recovery Support team, on Tuesday the 16th of March 2010. All the ladies from the support team have had and conquered breast cancer.

The main topic I spoke about; was overcoming fear.

“He who is not everyday conquering some fear, has not learned the secret of life.” RW EmersonBy looking at something threatening in a different way, one can change ones perception of the situation.

Women were brought up to do DIY. By comparing the various tools to products women use with ease every day, the idea of working with tools did not seem that threatening any longer.

Long nose pliers = Tweezers   /  Side cutters = Nail clippers   /  Painting = Painting your toe nails
Screw drivers = Car keys in an ignition  /  Electrical sander = Iron  /  Drill = Handheld electrical beater or hair dryer

For many women, including a lot of the ladies present, holding and working with a drill for the first time can be quite fearful.

They were made familiar with the drills before we plugged them into the power sockets. I taught them all the about a drill; what all the buttons are for and the safety measures on using a power tool. The ladies then proceeded to learn how to drill into wood and tiles, as well as learning all about the different drill bits and screws.

As I went around assisting the ladies, I noticed how supportive and helpful they were to one another.
Having gone through so much themselves, they have all realized that one cannot always do everything on ones own, and by giving and accepting help, one can reach ones destination a lot faster, with fever scars.

I sometimes wonder who doesn’t learn more from the Fix-it-Pink DIY workshops, the ladies or me.