"Live Your Passion!!"

Part of finding your passion, is finding the thing or things in life that make you happiest and trying to put them together, and doing the thing that makes you the happiest.

In life, we all have our goals, our passions - things in life that we want more than anything. For me, it all changed when I was diagnosed with Cancer 3 years ago. Things that used to seem so important to me - ended up being nothing that I could ever consider living my life for. I used to want to be a teacher, until they took the fun and art out of the schools, I used to want to own and manage a women's fitness club - but that fizzled out. And now? The thing that drives me the most, that gets me out of bed to work on it another day..... is my passion and drive to help others with cancer.

Recently I was shopping, and the lady next to me noticed my new button: "United Cancer Advocacy Action Network" reads across the top in black lettering, followed by a fabulous quote "We are surviving & thriving after cancer" and finally a website "UCAAN.ORG." The lady asked me "What is that?" At that instant, my face lit up and I told her all about my cause, as we talked, 3 other women in the store turned around and all said "I had cancer too." My bizzare sounding response to them was this "What's your cancer of choice?" The looks on their faces was priceless and the responses even better: "Well I didn't choose my cancer." replied one woman. I looked at her and smiled "Neither did I, but it's all about how you look at it. You are a survivor and doing great! For me, I have to joke around a little about the cancer, for me it works and usually gets people to laugh." I saw their once priceless looks on their faces turn into smiles. They all turned to me and agreed - attitude was everything & being positive helped them through their tough times.

So, when I say "Live your passion!" I mean it, and don't let anyone or anything stop you from accomplishing your goals - not even cancer. As weird as it may sound, cancer has made me... who I am today. It's made me that much stronger, and helped me realize that life isn't all about me. It's about the wonderful people we surround ourselves with, the people whose lives we touch - whether they are fellow survivors or not, the people we inspire & give hope, the people that with one word - their heart melts.... These are the people that I follow my passion of life for!

"Live it up! Live your passion!"