Hello hello!
I know you’ve probably been wondering what I’ve been up to this past month. Well, it’s no secret that I’ve been booked, busy and blessed! There has definitely been quite a bit going on behind the scenes with myself and the team in terms of making the right connections, being well positioned to make boss moves and closing deals that have opened doors of opportunities. It’s for sure been an interesting and rewarding couple of months and I’m excited for the space that I currently am in. I’d say that regardless of how booked and busy I am, I’m most definitely blessed and there’s no room for complaints! I’m just here trying to keep up with myself, to be honest!
A few weeks ago, as I was busy pecking away at business and just trying to navigate life in general, time found a way to stand still for just a little while to remind me that it had been 2 years since my lumpectomy! It feels surreal. And although it seems like forever ago, the lingering pain that continues to haunt me, makes it feel like it all happened not so long ago. Truthfully, my emotions have been all over the place because I didn’t get the chance to celebrate being cancer free like I would have loved to. It’s almost as if I didn’t get the closure I needed, like the end to that chapter in my life. And it gets to me sometimes. Then there’s the nagging pain. I’m still sore in the breast and arm area from the radiation, even though it's been well over a year since the procedure. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that it’s going to be a lifelong kind of sore and that some days I may feel like I’m improving, while on other days, I may feel like an 80 year old woman. And that’s OK. I just keep reminding myself that I’m in a much better place than I was 2 years ago, both physically and mentally and that I’ll always find the strength to pull through each day. Experiencing ongoing pain is not ideal, but I am very fortunate to have come this far and I’m kept humble knowing that not everyone has a great ending to their story. And that’s why I do what I do when it comes to supporting the Breast Cancer walk that’s coming up in October. I understand the journey because I’ve walked in their shoes. If you would like to join me and the team to support those on their cancer journey, feel free to register or donate here.
So it’s been a while since I’ve had a check-in with all of you. The last few months have been quite a roller-coaster and I wanted to throw this question out there, to see how things are or have been with you.
What lessons have you learned during this pandemic and what have you found to be most important to you?
Personally, I‘ve learned quite a number of lessons along the way, but the one thing I can say for sure is that although I knew I had a voice, that voice became amplified over the last 18 months. That was due to both the pandemic and my journey with cancer. I realized that in times past, I had let a lot of things slide and the little things here and there that really bothered or affected me, I didn’t address. And it grew and grew until it got to a point where I could no longer overlook the things that didn't bring me happiness or joy. I had cornered myself into a place of letting things go and I now had to figure out how to get out of my own way. Deciding to take my stand and addressing the little things that bothered me, even if it meant having difficult and uncomfortable conversations, was not easy. But that’s when I realized that having a voice didn’t really mean much, if it wasn’t put to good use. Taking care of myself and my well-being was my number one priority and I made sure that it was known at all levels.
On the other hand, what I found to be important to me was having a balance with my family and friends. Considering how our lives were literally changed overnight, I had missed and still do miss the human interaction component of even just seeing their faces or seeing them in person. I’ve always said and will continue to say that I see the value that my family and friends add to my life and having that balance is so important because they truly complete me.
Phew, that almost got me a little emotional. Maybe it’s a good time to tell you how my little garden has been doing! I’ve been eating abundantly from it and the last time I checked, I saw 5 cucumbers coming up and a couple of tomatoes. Also, my peppers are starting to bear fruit, so that’s super exciting! I love the vibrant colours. I know that I had no prior experience going into it, but it’s been interesting watching my garden come to life over the summer. Speaking of which, what are your plans for the rest of the summer months? Are you enjoying the heat? Any plans of taking last minute get-aways before school starts back up and you’re locked into a school-work routine?
I’m still reminiscing about my last vacation to Europe. I'm in dire need of some much needed time off right now but the thought of being on a plane scares me, so I feel like I'm missing out big time. Plus what I find to be unfair is that I see all these planes outside my window everyday and I’m not able to be on any of them, which just adds to the ongoing struggle of FOMO. But hopefully soon I’ll be able to visit all the places on my now growing list. Aruba is the first place I want to visit. I’ve heard amazing things about the island and I’d totally want a little island vacation for myself after all these months. Think about it. Coconut trees, sandy beaches, clear waters and no cares in the world? I can almost taste the serenity.
