Welcome to this conversation about celebrating the wins.
When you are living with cancer.
It can be easy to measure your days by what is difficult.
The appointments,
The uncertainty.
The things you used to do that now take so much more energy.
But there is a question we can make room for.
What deserves a little recognition today.
I am Katherine White,
A stage 4 colon cancer survivor and thriver.
Today I want to help you notice the wins that can get overlooked when life feels difficult and give yourself permission to let them matter.
A win.
Is something good.
For you.
A win might be good test results.
It might also be having a shower,
Or asking for help,
Or spending a few minutes doing something that you enjoy.
You get to decide what counts.
When I was diagnosed,
My life changed dramatically.
In that first year,
I went through 12 rounds of chemotherapy and two major surgeries.
There were big milestones,
Including finishing chemotherapy.
But my life also happened in all the days between the milestones.
And that is where I want to invite you to look.
Because if we only celebrate the big moments,
We can miss the effort it takes to live through an ordinary day and the wins we experience along the way.
Maybe you went to an appointment you were afraid of.
Maybe you told someone how you were really feeling.
Maybe you rested instead of pushing yourself past your limits.
Those moments deserve recognition,
Even when there is still so much you wish was different.
And your definition of a win can change.
What feels easy on one day might take everything you have on another.
You can meet yourself where you are today.
I love when people share something good that happened during their week.
Sometimes it comes easily.
Sometimes it takes slowing down and looking more closely to find a moment.
The purpose.
Is to give something meaningful a moment of attention.
It is so easy to brush past our own efforts with,
Well,
That doesn't really count.
Listen for that response in yourself.
If a friend had been through your day.
Would you dismiss what they managed?
Or would you say,
I know that took a lot?
I'm glad you gave yourself what you needed.
You deserve that same kindness.
You might also notice that a good moment brings worry with it.
You enjoy yourself and then a thought arrives.
What if something goes wrong?
Can I really relax?
When you have lived through frightening experiences,
Uncertainty can follow you into moments that feel good.
You don't have to argue with every worried thought.
You can gently acknowledge it.
I don't know what comes next,
But this moment is here and I can let myself enjoy it.
In my own life,
There was a point when I stopped letting fear make every decision.
I still had uncertainty,
But I wanted time with my family and space to enjoy being myself and enjoy my life.
We had what I called our mandatory family fun days.
Those moments gave us time to gather beyond conversations about cancer.
They reminded me that there was still life to participate in.
For you.
That might be a laugh with someone you love.
A favorite song or a quiet cup of tea.
Enjoyment does not require everything to be resolved first.
Let's take a moment to bring this into your own life.
If it feels comfortable.
Settle into the support beneath you.
And just let your breathing be natural.
And I'll invite you to think back over today or yesterday if that feels easier.
What took effort?
When did you care for yourself?
Was there a moment of connection,
Relief,
Or enjoyment?
Just pause here.
And reflect on those questions for a moment.
And now,
Choose one moment.
Something small is welcome here.
And next,
We're going to just simply name it.
Maybe it's,
I asked for help.
Or I made space to rest.
Or I enjoyed talking with my friend.
And then ask yourself.
Why did this matter to me?
Perhaps you honored a need.
Perhaps you let someone support you.
Perhaps you felt like yourself for a little while.
Just reflect on this.
Why did this matter to me?
You might quietly say.
To yourself.
That mattered.
I'm allowed to acknowledge it.
If nothing comes to mind.
That's okay.
Some days are difficult to look back on.
You can simply offer yourself this thought.
Today was difficult.
I deserve gentleness.
For the next few days,
I'll invite you to try this before bed.
Name one thing worth acknowledging.
And say why it matters.
You can write it down.
You can tell someone.
Or you can keep it quietly to yourself.
Celebration can be as simple as pausing long enough to give yourself credit.
There is no need to force a feeling of happiness.
Sadness,
And appreciation.
Can share the same day.
As you leave this practice,
Remember that your effort deserves recognition.
Your moments of connection and enjoyment deserve room to be heard and felt.
And I want to remind you that you are still you.
And even here in a life changed by cancer,
There are moments that belong to you.
And when you notice one.
Name it,
And let it count.
Thank you so much for taking this time for yourself,
And I'll see you in the next practice.
