"Share in honor of....."

I know I have loving, well-meaning friends who post asking me to share "in honor of someone who has survived cancer, is fighting cancer, or has died of cancer." As someone who has experienced cancer myself and I’m the widow of someone who died of cancer, I would kindly ask that instead of focusing on the cancer experience, that you instead ask for people to share in honor of "living life." I prefer to remove myself from all thoughts and fear of cancer, and instead focus on living life with a renewed sense of purpose. I don’t need to be reminded that cancer crossed my path. I don’t need to be honored for having experienced cancer or having held someone who died of cancer.

It's my belief that by keeping the cancer experience in my mind, it's keeping it in my body. I truly believe that the best thing people can do for their everyday health and well-being is to focus on passion, purpose, and celebrating life--not fear or fighting. 

Someone once asked me how I got through my husband’s death and my own cancer surgery with such strength and positivity. Everyone is different, but I chose to focus on being well and moving through the experience. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, there were lessons I needed to learn about resilience, faith, mindset, and transformation.

I would rather be honored for living life with passion and purpose and leaving a legacy of empowering others to do the same. So if you really feel compelled to share a message, let’s share one that inspires everyone to focus on living life.