Has it been a month since I have posted? I have started several, but homework keeps me busy these days. Thank you Karen for the reminder to get busy. I decided to postpone homework to blog and maybe, just maybe I will be re-energized on the books. One can hope.

Heilee and I toasting my last chemo with sparkling apple juice.

Yesterday was a SUPER HUGE day in my little world. SUPER HUGE! Did I mention SUPER HUGE! It was the anniversary of my last chemotherapy. March 8, 2011 I was unplugged from chemotherapy. The cool thing about the date is that it was 2 chemotherapy sessions sooner than was originally planned. The oncologist recommended 8 treatments, but I responded so fast, he felt no need to do the additional 2. Woo Hoo!

What a difference a year makes. When chemotherapy started in November 2010 I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. It took an attitude adjustment and lots of love and prayers from friends, family and perfect strangers to keep me going. By January, my spirit had returned and I was going to beat this cancer thing…again. And now it is a year later and so much has changed. I am living for the first time in a really long time. In 12 months I have:

• Survived cancer again.
• Witnessed a baby born. (The single best moment of my life.)
• Got my gallbladder removed.
• Connected with my sisters and brother more than we have been since our parents passed away.
• Driven across country with Kristine and my two dogs.
• Saw some beautiful places coming across country and met interesting people.
• Moved to Delaware with my husband.
• Went on a once-in-a-lifetime Mediterranean cruise to Italy, Greece, Turkey and Croatia with my husband to witness a beautiful wedding between two friends.
• Swam in crystal clear blue waters.
• Felt the sand between my toes in cool new countries.
• Visited NYC twice and DC once.
• Volunteered with a great organization.
• Did two speaking engagements.
• Booked a speaking engagement for June 2012.
• Spent time with my family.
• Played in the snow with our snow-virgin dogs.
• Enrolled (and almost completed) in a holistic nutrition program to help myself heal and found my purpose in life.
• Learned how to cook healthy.
• Started working out.
• Learned to like brussel sprouts, kale and chia seeds.
• Started a blog.

Whew! It has been quite a fulfilling year!

In December 2010, my  friend Beverly gave me the best advice. She said that sometimes we have to just be in the present moment, get through that moment, then the next and so on. Instead of setting goals for 2011, be present in each day. At the end of the year, look back at all you accomplished because if the only thing on that list is “beating cancer” it was bigger than most accomplishments in life. She was right and that is what I did. I stayed present and tried not to get ahead of myself. It helped me maintain my sanity in the midst of the most stress I have ever had. Thank you Bev for being the compass I needed at that given moment. And thank you God for giving me opportunity to do and be more than just beating cancer.

I encourage each of you to sit down and write what you have accomplished in the last 12 months. Give yourself credit even for the little things like learning to like brussel sprouts.