H&P #13

Breast Cancer Awareness Month has started off with a bang.

Between being nominated as a recipient of a local fundraiser, hearing my book should be coming out this month, attending the Surviving and Thriving luncheon, and now back at treatment, the month already feels much longer than 4 days.  

Last year, I was invited to attend Pink Alliance's luncheon as a guest of a physician friend who owns a local free-standing ER.  As big donors, the ER had their own table in a prime location.  My second cancer diagnosis was still fresh, so much so that I was called on stage as the survivor with the newest diagnosis.  This year, I was barely able to get tickets, as the even was sold out so quickly, and I had been placed on a waiting list.  I was able to secure tickets for myself and some fellow Boobers! I was surprised when all the breast cancer survivors were asked to stand that less that half of the packed room stood up from their chairs.  Then, when the same invitation for the newest survivors to remain standing was made to this year's crowd, my memories from last year immediately flooded back.  It seems like a lifetime ago, yet still so fresh. 

The biggest piece of advice I took from the inspirational speaker, Texan Kendra Scott, was about failure and hardships.  WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM.  All the failures and struggles of her life have actually been bridges that have prepared her for being ready for what comes next.  She lost her step-father to brain cancer, her first business (The Hat Box--hats for cancer patients and more)  went under, she started peddling jewelry in a tea box, also while carrying her newborn son, was told that a major fashion brand could never come out of Texas, has lost close friends to breast cancer.....all of these have prepared her and pushed her into what she has been able to accomplish so far.  She has an amazing philanthropic philosophy and is doing an amazing program for breast cancer this month.  20% of her sales of specific jewelry will be donated to Breast Cancer Research Foundation, AND a second piece of jewelry will be donated to a breast cancer patient.  She will even be sending hand written notes of love and encouragement to those patients.  (We got to write some at the luncheon!)  Go to her website, HERE, to find out more!  She's spreading the mantras: Hope Matters and "You do good."  (The 3-word phrase her late step-father was able to speak after brain surgery in response to her opening her hat store.)  We can all "do good" with what we have been given.

Who knows how long any of us has here on earth.  I know that time is best spent trying to make a difference in the lives of those around us.  Find the things that you are passionate about and talented in and find a way to "do good."