If you’re like me, and I suspect you are, when life slaps you around the face you hunker down and battle on, your stiff upper lip firmly in place (Brits have stiff upper lips – what do Americans have?). You tell yourself and everyone except a few close peeps you’re fine, when you’re anything but.
We ugly cry in the shower, struggle to pray, then soldier on. We laugh when all we want to do is scream.
We put life on hold until we’re through our grief, cancer, break up, depression or whatever else has shattered our world.
And we’re left merely surviving a life we didn’t sign up for.
It’s no fun at all. (A British understatement of biblical proportion)
How do I know? Because I was there.

My Story
Had the heat seeking missile of death locked in on me?
Had I done something to deserve this?
Was God off answering the prayers of women who didn’t scream at their kids or tell rude jokes at bible study?
Then I met some folks who called themselves cancer thrivers, not cancer survivors.
I wanted that. Thriving sounded so much more alive, hopeful and dusted with colorful sprinkles, than the life I was merely surviving.
So I set out to learn how to do the same and share what I learned
Life still stunk like a week old tuna sandwich but I was learning to hold hands with both the good and bad. Joy and pain. Laughter and tears. Loneliness and friendship. Doubts and faith. Peace and fear. Hope and worry. Chemo and cookies.
Friend, it really is possible to thrive, not just survive, when life beats you up, steals your joy and poops on you from a great height.
Would you like to do the same?
Are you ready to stop merely surviving and start thriving right where you are?
MY LIFE TODAY
- I can’t wink. No, I really can’t. I just blink, so please don’t ask.
- I’d rather run trails with my dogs than get my nails done.
- My only claim to fame is being in the same class as actress Rachel Weisz (who’s married to Bond star Daniel Craig)
- I once got swept out to sea by a rip tide and nearly drowned.
- I stole a bra. A very unsexy bra.
- My American accent is absolutely terrible.





