Almost There

Guess what day it is? My one year Cancerversary! I’m not married… yet. Where are you Prince Charming?! I like a good celebration… so dang it… I’m celebrating an anniversary! On this day last year I heard those three years. “You have cancer.” This year, I’m turning the frown I had last year upside-down and turning it into one big Cheshire Cat smile! 

One year later I am done with surgery. I am done with chemotherapy. I am done with radiation. I am done with physical therapy. I have two more Herceptin infusions to go and many years of hormone therapy ahead, but I Wished Upon a Star and now I See The Light. I was talking to someone at the hospital this week when they asked what I learned over the year. One sentiment I did take away you can find in a song in the Disney movie “Moana.”

There comes a day

When you’re gonna look around

And realize happiness is where you are

Whenever I feel something negative begin to drown me I take a deep breath and remember where I am. I am not in the same place I was last year. Ask me what my priorities in life are now and they are different. Now my daily activities reflect what is important to me. I’ve always been a lover of “the little things.” Now I’m so much more deeply in love with those things. The “bless you” after I sneeze by a random stranger. The “like” of a Tweet I posted. The taste of food. I realize the happiness of where I am at that moment. It doesn’t have to be a good moment. It could be that some boob just bumped me over on the subway platform to catch a train. I pause, roll me eyes, take a deep breath and re-set my reaction. I can create happiness. I am responsible for my happiness. My thinking is no longer of annoyance, but of gratitude … thankfullness that I’m standing on that subway platform to be knocked into and not bedridden with chemo caused fatigued. 

Being happy is healthy. Being happy takes courage. That said, I’m on my way to the Happiest Place on Earth! I’m marking the milestone by going to Disney World with a dear friend. I haven’t been able to take a vacation for over a year. I’m putting on my Hakuna Matata hat and… as I wrap this post up… reminding you to think happy. As a wise fairy said, "All you need is faith, trust, and a little bit of Pixie Dust."