Five things I learned from Beating Cancer

“If you have cancer get a horse,” came the words in November, 2004. As you might imagine, the words got my attention, but with the holidays coming, I set them aside. Shortly thereafter, I noticed a very small lump near my right breast, which I dismissed as probably a cyst caused by drinking coffee. Besides, I had my annual mammogram scheduled for January.

The holidays came and went, as did my mammogram. Nothing abnormal showed up. A month later, I went on vacation with my oldest friend, and shared with her how the words had come to me and about my mammogram. She encouraged me to make an appointment with my gynecologist to get checked out one more time. I did, and the doctor ordered a biopsy of the lump, just to be safe. The day before my 43 rd birthday, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. A whirlwind of appointments ensued, after it was determined that I had a very rare form (less than one percent of women with breast cancer have my type).

My takeaways from my bout with cancer are:

1. Trust your gut. On some level, my body knew there was a problem.

2. Take good care of yourself. Do the activities that nourish your body and soul.

3. Don’t take things for granted. Life can change in the blink of an eye.

4. Find a way to be brave. It’s okay to have the fear—And, do it anyway!

5. Follow your passions. Do something that is meaningful to you.

Just over a year ago, I was in Phoenix for a few months to do a yoga teacher training. Throughout the program, I was constantly thinking about and trying to integrate the tools of yoga. One day while I was hiking, it occurred to me to incorporate the mindfulness techniques I had learned as a facilitator into a book for children. In March I published The Dolphin’s Secret: A Meditational Journey for Children. My hope is this book empowers children to experience peace, ease, and happiness through learning mindfulness techniques at a young age.

A few years ago, I was introduced to a form of meditation called Yoga Nidra. It is an ancient meditation tradition from India, which incorporates a specific sequence of mindfulness techniques that profoundly relax the body and quiets the mind. It is very effective and user friendly. When practicing it, one simply lays down as comfortably as possible and follows the directions given by a trained Yoga Nidra facilitator. I loved the technique so much that I got certified as an Advanced Level facilitator at the Amrit Yoga Institute in Salt Springs, Florida.