I’m just going to say it. Everyone knows October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, there’s absolutely no way you wouldn’t know this. And while I appreciate the importance of educating people, bringing it to people’s attention, and raising money, does it have to be EVERYWHERE?

On TV, in every magazine, and on almost every aisle at any store you visit. Today, I was at the grocery store and needed to purchase eggs. I opened the carton, and went to check my eggs, to make sure they weren’t cracked, and there was a pink ribbon. On each and every egg. Really. Is this necessary? Is this going to make someone actually think, “Maybe I should go get a mammogram?”

I don’t think someone is going to put down the carton, run out of the store, and speed dial their OBGYN on their cell phone to get the mammogram they might not have gotten, had their carton of eggs not remind them of this.

I don’t think so.

Pink is actually my favorite color. When my daughters were little, I had a problem with pink, and almost always dressed them in matching pink clothing. It became an issue. I even wore a lot of pink myself, and had ridiculous quantity of pink clothing.

I love pink.

But, this is getting out of hand. It’s almost like every business feels like they need to join in on the fun.

And let me tell you, there’s nothing fun about breast cancer.

While it looks pink and happy, there’s nothing happy about it.

So, here we are in October. I don’t want to think about breast cancer twenty-four seven, for the whole month of October. And I know I’m not the only one. Yes, it’s a good cause. Yes, a lot of companies and businesses donate a lot of much needed money to research. Yes, it’s important to teach women about early detection.

But…

Maybe, I’m just especially sensitive to this. Because I don’t just see pink. I see the long and hard year I had, almost two years ago. I remember the panicked feeling when I heard those words, “You have breast cancer.” I remember the fear I had. And then there was the chemo room. Followed by the radiation. And then the reconstruction. It will always be there. It will never completely go away.

There’s a lot more to breast cancer than pretty pink ribbons. And while I embrace those who want to raise awareness, educate people, and fundraise, maybe, just maybe, things are getting a little bit out of hand. But again, it might just be me? I don’t want to offend anyone. That isn’t my intention. I’m just saying, maybe a little less pink?

Find meaning each day,

Dara