The Easy Cancer

Last week I was invited to share my story with a local thyroid cancer support group. Funny enough, after having thyroid cancer and recurrence I had never been to any support meetings. I think part of it was because my life was in a constant swirl mode. I had 3 younger kids, work, and friends surrounding me 24/7. After being around these women I understand the value of support from those who walk a similar path. So…thyroid cancer, the ‘easy’ cancer as it’s better known, nope. Before sharing my story, we went around the table and each woman shared a little of theirs. What I heard was multiple surgeries, high dose radiation, mis-diagnosis, lack of empathy from physicians, varying opinions, varying treatments, and metastasis, essentially a changed life; Different ages, different stages of life, different stories, different struggles, but same cancer. What I found most encouraging was that every single person had a positive outlook on life and living. Two of the women have cancer which has metastasized in their lungs and they were the most positive of us all. They both had peace and joy on their face as they expressed their gratitude for every single moment of every single day.

What does gratitude feel like? It’s feeling warm and loved on a day that’s below 0 degrees. It’s not just seeing the sun shine and appreciating it, but it’s also knowing that even on the cloudiest of days the sun is there behind the clouds. It’s opening your eyes in the morning in anticipation of a new day you’ve been blessed with to meet people, hear stories, and just plain live life. It’s feeling wind whipping through your hair, the chill of the cold, rain (or snow) in your face and saying ‘thank you God that I can feel and breathe and laugh’. It’s hearing your kids laugh or even fight and being overcome with emotion because either way, you love them and they know you’re there. Being grateful means you pick your battles, you let some of the small stuff go and you realize that much of life is not in your control so you just roll with it. Life is awesome and FYI, there’s no such thing as easy cancer.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.~Melody Beattie

Today I wear Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie lipgloss in High Roller which is a coral pink. These lip glosses are super moisturizing and are mostly all natural. They have lots of color infused in them so you can wear them alone or on top of lipstick to add shine. I chose this color because I’m ready for summer! Cheers!