Faith, Hope, And Your Life's Purpose

Two years ago seemed like the darkest hour of my life. I had no idea that a diagnosis would teach me how to live life to the fullest. I didn't, couldn't, realize at that time that I would opt for a fighter's mentality instead of a defeated one. I couldn't comprehend until I was actually in the trenches that my life WAS worth fighting for, if for no other reason than my family. I had yet to learn that no day should be taken for granted and each should be treated as a precious hand-delivered gift from God.

In 2014, at just 46-years old, my dreams were suddenly eclipsed by the cold, hard reality of three words: "You've got cancer." Thankfully, my melanoma was caught early, but try telling that to inner fear. Try rationalizing that during repeated visits to doctors, surgeons, and oncologists. After all, just like you, I'm human with human emotions, feelings, fears, and limitations. Facing my mortality, I developed a very personal relationship with my very own pity potty. All I wanted to do was shut it down and hide from the world.

Dragging myself to church was the beginning of my personal renewal of Faith, Hope, and Life's Purpose. My Pastor Rich delivered a sermon that hit me right in my self-pity heart. His words reminded me that I was on the verge of the biggest testimony in my life. I was on the threshold of a battle in the trenches of my emotions and feelings that would, in the end, produce a warrior of Faith, Hope, and Purpose. It was time for me to focus on living, receiving support where and when needed, and being that positive spirit to those around me that God called me many years ago to be.

Each and every day I CHOSE to work tirelessly on my physical, mental, and spiritual (PMS) health. My testimony is that today I am two years cancer-free! I refuse to say I'm a survivor. I am doing so much more than just surviving—I am thriving. So rather than say I'm a cancer survivor, I say I'm a cancer thriver, and grateful for it.

My Thriver Mechanisms

Power Prayer: God is my strength and my all in all. I get on my knees and pray every day. I thank Him for another day, and I count my blessings one by one. I pray that God keeps me alive and healthy, so that I may be an instrument of his peace. My goal is to help millions. 

I focus on Philippians 4:13 — "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

Positive Affirmations: I repeat my positive affirmations every day, all day. I don't allow negative thoughts to control my attitude and destiny. In other words, if I have to, I fake it until I make it. Affirmations such as:

• "When you're at your lowest, look to the highest."
• "Strength doesn't come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't." — Rikki Rogers
• "You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live." — Stuart Scott

Eating Healthy and Exercising: You have to eat healthy and take control of your mind and body. For the first time in my life, my focus is on eating healthy to stay alive, versus gaining the perfect body. That changes everything. 

I changed my diet to a cancer-fighting diet by eating more fish and less chicken and red meat. I eat more colorful vegetables, actually transforming my body from a cancer-invitation waiting to happen into a cancer-fighting machine. I chose and choose, to honor God with my body, a temple, as it's His to begin with. 

I continue to win the fight in the trenches by supplementing and reinforcing my immune system with this routine:

My Life Today

• I LIVE every day to the fullest
• I CHOOSE peace in every situation.
• I FOCUS on what’s important and live a life of purpose
• I TELL everyone I love them, even strangers
• I HUG everyone I see
• I TURN my pain into my purpose
• I SING like no one's listening
• I DANCE like no one's watching
• NO REGRETS

I learned how important it is to be humble, and it's okay to feel vulnerable. It's not my favorite emotion, but it can bring out the best in me. There is nothing like the possibility of death to make you start living and to teach you what’s important.

Choose to live now, today. Don't wait, delay, or dawdle. Live each day with a sense of urgency to do what makes you happy and live with a passion to Win the Fight!

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May is Melanoma Awareness Month. Thanks to advances in cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and follow-up care, more people than ever before are surviving the disease. In America alone, more than 14.5 million people are alive today after being diagnosed with cancer.

However, surviving cancer can leave a host of problems in its wake. Physical, emotional, and financial hardships often persist for years after diagnosis and treatment. Cancer survivors are also at greater risk for developing second cancers and other health conditions.

For more information on not only surviving, but thriving and winning the fight against cancer, I'd encourage you to read Win the Fight: Stomp Out Melanoma. It's also the perfect gift for family members or friends who may be in the trenches as I was.