The Burst of Spring: Reflection for Those Living with Cancer

Ahhh… the end of winter — that long, quiet season that gently holds nature in pause. And then, without fail, comes the burst of spring. The Earth awakens in color and fragrance, buds open like promises kept, and shoots rise from the cold ground like small miracles. In that same spirit, I too, feel myself coming more alive.

Spring brings more than flowers. It brings connection — shared laughter with dear friends, having meals enjoyed under open skies and the joy of simply being outside with my grandchildren, breathing in life. It’s a season that reminds me I am here. I am alive to witness the world blooming again. And when each spring draws to a close, I find myself praying — not with fear, but with hope — that I’ll be blessed to greet another. Walking outside every day fills my heart with gratitude. I walk past all the trees and observe new buds emerging. This might sound strange to you, but I sometimes think what a miracle it is that each year we are guaranteed spring will come, but we are certainly not guaranteed that we will be here to experience it. Each spring is such a gift to me.

In May, I will meet with my doctor to hopefully stop my medication, Calquence (acalabrutinib), a targeted cancer treatment that I have been on for two and a half years. This is a feeling of rebirth for me, just like the rebirth of spring after winter. At first, I was scared to even think about stopping it, but now I have reframed it. I look forward to enjoying the freedom of letting it go. The feeling of not worrying about what time I will have to take my medication, and if I will have at least eight ounces of water with me to take it. I will focus on how freeing it will be. Yes, my doctor has reminded me: The cancer will likely return, and with it, the need for treatment. But rather than live in fear of that moment, I choose to embrace the now and celebrate the life I’m living today.

Instead of worrying when that day will come, I’m choosing to savor the days I have now, days filled with a quality life. I don’t take for granted the physical ability to go for walks and hikes, so I can enjoy the spring as it continues to emerge. I will take time to smell the roses (as they say) more than ever. I will play with my grandchildren outside and watch the birds that are now congregating at our birdfeeder. I will take the time to notice every blossom, every breeze, every blessing.

The longer days with more sunshine also contribute to a more positive and energetic feeling that short, cold winter days just can’t match. Some people seem jaded as they rush through life, so caught up in going from one place to the next that they fail to notice the everyday miracles, like the rebirth of nature. I think after a cancer diagnosis, many of us gain a deeper appreciation for the small moments we once overlooked.

So, here’s to spring — not just a season, but a reminder that life is always offering us a fresh start. Renewal. Hope. Joy. No one is promised another year, another bloom, another morning. But today, I am here. And that is everything. Here’s to spring! Here’s to life! Beautiful. Fragile. And so worth savoring.

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