This week’s topic was entitled Sex, Love and Intimacy and our presenter was none other than “Ms. Basia” herself, Mrs. Alicia Powell. We were all looking forward to what we thought would be our “hottest and steamiest” session ever. For those of you who know Ms. Basia, you would understand why. This session was not only hot and steamy but also was one of the most open sessions that we have had to date. Our ladies opened up to us in ways that we never thought possible, which showed us that over the weeks they have come to feel a lot more comfortable and trusting of us and their sisters. Additionally, we laughed more than we had ever laughed before. We are sure that persons on the outside of our room at the Hilton were wondering, what was happening on the inside. If the old adage holds true that “laughter is the best medicine”, then we should all be fully healed after yesterday’s session.

Alicia started with introspection asking questions like “Are you achieving happiness?”, “What or who was preventing your from being happy?” and “What are some of the things that you can do to make you happy?”. The answers to these questions were very enlightening and we were happy to learn that many persons were now making a concerted effort to find happiness, since joining the network. She continued to reiterate to our ladies the importance of their happiness to their healing and how critical it was for them to understand that before graduating from the program.

We then went on to the meat of the matter, “Sex, intimacy and love”. One of our original members shared with us her struggle with body image after her diagnosis and how she learnt to overcome this struggle. She stated that she had to remind herself that despite what she was seeing in the mirror she was a child of God and it was her soul not flesh that mattered. She advised our ladies to love themselves despite what they may see in the mirror. Many persons shared how they had felt on losing their hair and their breasts – two of the most crucial defining areas for a woman. Some persons still struggle with feeling whole and loving themselves after this loss occurs. Alicia reminded our women that they had to love themselves despite all that was taking place in their lives. The hair would grow back and the breast can be reconstructed. She also went on to state that until we can love ourselves it would be impossible for others to love us and that it is through true love that we find happiness and healing.