What Cancer taught me and how it can maybe help you

Life is unpredictable…you know it…I know it – there’s not much we can really do but wait until that point where we are forced to face something that we didn’t see coming or expect.

Last year, I had some personal stuff happen to me – one of which was a doctor check-up where I was told I may have Cancer. The look of concern on the doctor’s face gave it away before she even told me her thoughts and I just sat there a little horrified. My Mom had Cancer a few years ago and my Dad passed away after fighting cancer for about 4 years, so it’s in the family and after watching my Dad’s journey, the thought of Cancer is a particularly scary one. I had to have some biopsies taken and was told that I would have to wait a bit longer than usual to hear the results as it was a long weekend (urgh!). The doctor explained if the results came back positive, I would require surgery and depending on how severe it was, I would need chemo. I was floored.

It was pouring with rain that day, so I got in my car and drove to a parking area by the sea around the corner to the doctor’s rooms and sat thinking about what the doctor had said. And, in the days that followed, I felt numb. I wanted the results, I didn’t want the results. Lots of “what ifs” went through my mind. Thoughts raced constantly through my mind about a variety of things, but you can’t really do much until you have the facts.

I received the results a week later and I was cleared …thankfully…BUT what came out of this “scare” was the realization that life is short and if you want to do something, do it now! If you can’t do it now which is a real possibility because of kids, responsibilities, money, etc, then put plans into action that you can work towards making what you want to have happen, happen.

I am generalising now, but I do think many people operate on auto-pilot. Most of us get up every day and follow the same routine as the day before or the week before. There are obviously the odd changes when kids are sick, there’s a party or social gathering with friends or family, random unexpected things happen. Stresses remain pretty much the same and new ones arise regularly – that’s life. We plod along each day waiting for the end of the day when we can head home, eventually go to bed and read, watch a movie or favourite series and sleep and then wake up the next day to start the same routine over again. (I am basing this on conversations with various people – those with kids and those without).

It’s so easy to fall into a comfortable routine and take time and those around you for granted.

It’s been almost a year since that day and I haven’t told many people about it for various reasons, but they saying sharing is caring and today I share it with you and at the same time invite you to take a minute and STOP to ask yourself this question: “WHAT DO I REALLY WANT?” and “WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO MAKE IT HAPPEN OR A REALITY?”. Are finances in the way? Is it confidence? Is it time you need?

FACT: Life isn’t forever and we don’t know when our time is up – sounds morbid, I know, but it’s true. Don’t get complacent because it really is so easy to be that way.

While I am not a spring chicken, I’m not going to continue plodding along while I am able to walk, run, laugh, drive, talk, interact –  I want to explore, learn, share, meet people and love more.

Get clear on what you want. TODAY. And, then work towards making it happen…responsibly of course!

Convinced yet? Email me, comment below, post on social media and share with me what you want to do / change and make it happen, girlfriend – you will thank me and yourself for it!