Devastating News

7 years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Getting the news was devastating on so many levels.

Not knowing whether it had spread anywhere else was incredibly difficult, but also trying to figure out how I would continue to run my business while undergoing surgery, chemo and radiation.

Then there was the fact that I was a single parent and only breadwinner.

I remember having so many questions about everything and no answers on how to handle the situation.

I decided not to tell anyone other than my closest family - I didn't want anyone to feel sorry for me and I wanted to maintain normalcy as much as I could.

Plus I felt like I had to remain professional so that my clients didn't worry I wouldn't be there to support them.

In the end, I took it one day at a time, one hour at a time and one minute at a time. Luckily I had incredible support from family and friends and managed to get through my treatments and come out on the other end.

What was interesting though, a year after I finished my treatments, I started opening up about my journey and I was blown away by the response in my business circles. Everyone was so kind and supportive.

And it dawned on me that everyone faces tough times, and sharing my challenges helped others let their guard down. After all, we're human before we are business owners and sh** happens to everyone.

The beginning of each year is difficult as I wait to get the results of my scans - I feel like I'm holding my breath for days leading up to all my tests.

But I am so grateful for the technology and medical system we have and the kindness of our doctors and nurses.

Seeing my doctor yesterday I got the feeling she doesn't want to see me anymore. And I feel like I can exhale!

As I reflect on my journey, I'm grateful for the lessons I learned and the people I've met along the way.

I would love to hear what lessons have you learned from facing adversity in your own life and how do you stay present and mindful amidst uncertainty?