While the vast majority of us have been fixated on the fight against Covid-19, I have been also battling a fight of my own.
In early 2020, I was diagnosed with cancer. Battling cancer during a pandemic has been a challenging, stressful, and humbling experience. Luckily, I have also had the opportunity to continue to learn and grow from this experience.
Life is precious.
I did not expect to be facing my own mortality at twenty eight years of age. This quarantine has allowed me to face my own mortality, and reflect on the past uninterrupted. In the midst of chaos, I have been digging for lessons and opportunities to better myself.
Although I have never been one to take anything in my life for granted, I find myself now more than ever intentionally trying to appreciate the little things a little bit more.
I appreciate my life, and plan to make the most of it.
Life is too short.
I’ve always been inspired by Muhammad Ali’s attitude towards calculating time. We don’t have as much time on this planet as we think we do. In order to achieve my goal of making a lasting impact on this planet, I need to prioritize my time more than the average human being. Perhaps, more than they can even comprehend.
People do not have the right to your time. It’s a beautiful thing once you realize you get to dictate who has access to it, and who does not.
I advise you not to waste another single second on anyone who does not add value to your life.
Patience is a virtue.
Chemotherapy, in many ways, tries to take everything from you. There are new side effects to deal with almost every day. It’s a very aggressive treatment that breaks you down and challenges you mentally and physically on a daily basis.
Battling cancer has forced me to slow down and put my life in perspective. My career and financial goals are very important to me. However, they meaningless compared to my health.
Cancer doesn’t care about your goals or dreams. The plan to beat it is often laid out for you, without much wiggle room. The process of battling cancer forces you to forget how stressful and far out your goals are. It makes you focus on channeling your strength to get by each day, and each week.
In order to mentally endure the challenge of the given day or week, you are focused to learn how to be patient and trust the process. I’m hoping this lesson in patience and focus will apply to my everyday life, long after beating cancer.
Trust.
I’ve always been someone who struggled with trust issues. I now find myself trusting strangers to save my life against an invisible enemy. Blindly trusting my doctors has been a lesson on trust and vulnerability.
Many of us need to need to be put more faith in human beings. I hope I walk out of this more trusting, and more comfortable with being vulnerable at times.
So, how am I doing?
I’m doing great. If you know me, you know I’m a fighter. I will beat this.
I’m lucky enough to have a family that tends to my every need, and amazing friends who check in on me every day.
I think the hardest part about battling cancer has been telling people. I hate the sound of sympathy. It makes me more nauseous that chemo ever will. That is why most of my family and friends will be finding out about my battle through this article. I apologize for that. It’s just easier than hearing another person say the words, “I’m so sorry”. I appreciate their kind words, but I don’t need anyone’s sympathy.
I’m still working. I’m trying to keep my life as close to normal as possible. Again, I will beat this.
Keep a positive mindset.
When presented with bad news, I simply fixate on good news. Want to know the first thought I had in my head when I was diagnosed with cancer? Remission. That’s it. Honest to God, that is the only thing I have allowed myself to think since I have been diagnosed. I’m not in denial. I have had plenty of time to process what I’m going through. However, my mindset is more powerful than my grief.
Even when surrounded by darkness, a positive mindset will light the way.
How’s chemo going? The only answer you’ll get out of me is “easy”.
How am I going to spend the rest of this quarantine?
I’m going to beat cancer.
Easy.
p.s, If you suspect that you might have cancer, please go tested. Do what you need to do. I know it can be a frightening experience. However, you are worthy of living. Anyone struggling with cancer, or the fear of facing it, you are in my prayers.
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