Life Lesson #1: Don't Take Anything For Granted

I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the age of 17, shortly after graduating high school in 2005. I will be turning 23 on September 1st and it will be six years since that tragic twist of fate. Over the next week I will be guest blogging for ottawacancer.blogspot.com and I am privileged to share some of the most valuable life lessons I have learnt from being a cancer victim and today – a proud cancer survivor.

Young or old; there will always be things you take for granted. You may take your spouse for granted, or maybe your impeccable health; or money. Those are just a few examples; it could really be anything, depending on who you are. As I discovered at the young age of 17; things can change in a moment and you are left with nothing. I woke up one morning with what I pictured as perfect health and the next day – the harsh reality that I had cancer. The seemingly perfect life that I had and always took for granted had been stripped from me.

All the money and all the designer handbags in the universe could not have changed how I felt after receiving my diagnosis. I was suddenly so grateful to have a family that supported me whole heartedly and friends that I could really count on. I had plenty of shoulders to cry on when I broke down and most of all; I had really great parents that were there for me through the good, the bad and the ugly.

The most important thing in life is to not take things for granted and be thankful for what you have. There were times during my battle that I took things for granted entirely and never thought twice about it; in my case, cancer was a rude awakening. I can say I definitely think a little bit harder about my decisions now, I don’t hold grudges and I can’t be upset because life really is too short to be angry. I look at the petty day to day disappointments as spilt milk and wipe the slate clean for the next day. I try to forget the negative and focus on the positive, but it takes a bit of practice.

Whatever obstacles life throws your way, whether it be cancer, a divorce, loss of a job, a death in the family; know that people will always be behind you helping you fight, and know that within yourself, you have the strength to carry on. Don’t take for granted the people who care about you most, let them know they are loved, because in the end they are just as fragile as you. And most of all, never give up. Things always get better. Trust me, I know…