I’m Not the Same Since Cancer — and I’m Thankful for That

I am not the same person after having had cancer. I am grateful for my diagnosis and the outcome I had. Looking back nine years post diagnosis, I am grateful to hold my life more precious and to be more respectful of the time I have left to enjoy my life and family.

My cancer diagnosis inspired me to keep an updated bucket list of things I want to see in life, and it reminded me of career goals I had been holding back from. While diagnosed with cancer, I started my own business. This business was a dream to combine yoga with my degree in mental health counseling. I followed my passion to become a yoga teacher while healing from surgeries and procedures; this helped me heal and gave me something to look forward to as I dreamed of all the ways I could combine my skills in fun new ways to help others. I have grown to offer my services to support corporate and individual wellness services I provide in addition to mental health and addiction counseling services.

I will call my response to this major life stressor of cancer the “fluffy effect,” because I now laugh and enjoy life more. I worry about things, but I think I worry less because I have something to give me a new perspective in life.

By the way, I use the term “fluffy” as Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias is one of my favorite comedians. He helped me further put my gratitude in perspective when I attended his recent comedy show at the Hard Rock Live in Florida. He spoke about life, and it isn’t until we have overcome challenges and had negative things happen that we can see our lives differently. It was at this time that I deepened my gratitude for an opportunity to have a few more years of life. I plan to still have more years to go and would love to grow old enough to see grandchildren and my own children living a happy life.

This also speaks to my gratitude for a team of doctors who caught my husband’s cancer diagnosis early enough so we can grow older and wiser together. For the time being, I will continue to enjoy shows with individuals such as Gabriel Iglesias, aka Fluffy, because being able to laugh is one of my ways to honor a form of therapy and self-care. He reminds me to let go of what might be a trivial stressor in life.

As I mentioned, I try not to take life too seriously and take things as they go and focus only my ability to cope with what is thrown at me. This perspective has grown since having a former diagnosis of cancer. I hope that others might benefit from my personal quote: “may your smile be brighter than any obstacle you face.” Have goals to support your dreams for any time you might have left on earth. I know I am no longer the same person as before cancer and I am grateful.

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