Where do you see yourself in five years?
At some point, we’ve all been asked this question. Sometimes, this question is posed by another person. A parent. A guidance counselor. A prospective or current employer. Other times, we may ask ourselves this question at pivotal points in our personal and professional lives.
Five years ago today, I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer. If this question had been posed to me at that particular time, my answer would have been simply, Hopefully, still alive.
That diagnosis launched me into full blown survival mode. It consumed me. Physically. Emotionally. Spiritually. Financially. The plans that I made prior to roughly 1:10 pm on October 20, 2015, quickly faded into the background and were replaced by one plan, and one plan only. Survive. And, so far, I have.
As I reflect on these past five years, it still seems very surreal. Despite the scars to remind me, I still cannot quite believe it. The flurry of activity that revolved around surgery, radiation, medical appointments, and medication during that first year was replaced with creating a new normal. While the physical aspects became much more manageable, the emotional aspects lingered and were difficult to rein in, at times. The fear, anxiety, and survivor’s guilt continued, and still do, to varying degrees. Everything felt new, but it definitely did not feel normal.
Five years ago, I feared that my life was over. I had no way of knowing that it was actually a beginning of sorts. I now have a new job, live in a cozy home with my daughters, am in a relationship with the love of my life, and am in good health and even better spirits. Life is not perfect, but perfection never was, or will be, part of the plan. It’s all about progress, and I am humbled and grateful to be where I am today.
So, where do I see myself in five years? Still here, surrounded by the people I love, happy, healthy, and thriving! Trust and believe, this is just the beginning of more amazing things to come.
That’s another story. . .
Categories: That's Another Story
That's Another Story 
Leave a Reply