I’m not going to say I’ve been looking for the silver lining in my cancer diagnosis.
But I will say it’s taught me something I didn’t expect — how to slow down.
It’s made me intentional with my time.
And, maybe most surprisingly, it’s taught me how to focus on myself again.
If you’re a woman who’s been in nonstop “go-go-go” mode for years — especially if you’ve raised kids — you get it.
For so long, my calendar has revolved around everyone else’s needs. T
he kids’ doctor’s appointments always came before mine.
My work schedule is planned around school drop-offs, pick-ups, and evening activities.
My own priorities often sit at the bottom of the list.
But cancer changes that.
My health and my needs can’t be pushed to the side anymore.
They can’t wait.
When you slow down, you start to notice the habits you’ve been running on autopilot.
You also see exactly what you were busying yourself with before.
And when you begin adding things back in, it becomes crystal clear what’s worth your time — and what’s not.
These days, my calendar is built around my walk.
Movement has become non-negotiable — not squeezed in after everything else like I had done in the past.
My oncologist recommended it to help manage fatigue, keep my body strong, and prepare for my next surgery.
Physical therapy is another anchor.
And in between, I’m choosing what lights me up:
Serving my coaching clients.
Updating my website and creating new content.
Taking an online course on neuroplasticity because I’m fascinated by the brain’s ability to rewire itself.
Dreaming up future projects, including turning my Substack and my story into a book.
And I’m saying “yes” more.
Yes to the things that make me feel like myself.
Yes to things that take me outside my comfort zone.
That meant going to see Rob Thomas last rainy Wednesday night.
My mind came up with a list of reasons not to go — the weather, the drive, the delay — but I caught myself.
I wanted to go.
We’d made the plan.
I knew it would be a fun summer night.
So we grabbed our rain jackets, drove through the downpour, got to the venue and the rain started to stop.
We ended up having an amazing time.
And just this morning, I recorded my first guest podcast episode since my surgery — an interview with Pamela Lamp about her 'Do the Next New Thing' project and book (episode launching September 2nd).
I left my virtual recording studio buzzing.
It reminded me exactly how much I love these conversations, how much I love sharing other women’s stories, and how much joy comes from filling my day with the things that energize me.
What I’ve come to realize is that when you pause long enough to make more intentional choices, you start to fill your days with what actually matters.
This morning, that meant coffee and breakfast on the deck with the dog, fresh air, and time to write before recording another podcast episode.
No rushing.
No autopilot.
Just noticing what’s important and making space for it.
Because when you’ve been forced to slow down, you realize the gift isn’t in the silver lining — it’s in how you choose to fill your time once you have it.
You will be a wonderful author 👍😘