Share a little bit about yourself.
I’m a single mom, I have a 22 year old daughter & an 18 year old son. I work as a realtor and have for 15 years. My passions are yoga, live music, road trips and vegan food
Share a little bit about your cancer experience.
I was diagnosed in 2010 with stage 2 breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy but the tumor was large and they could’t tell me 100% that there was or was not cancer in the surrounding tissue, so I decided to have a bilateral mastectomy with silicone implants for reconstruction. I then also had 4 rounds of chemo. I had a lot of support from friends and family to help me through all this as a single mom but it was terribly hard. I still worked and sometimes my mom drove me to show houses or even my dear clients would pick me up. I never hid the experience, I was very open about it.
How has it benefited you to be part of the JoyBoots community?
I miss going to the classes, I love the camaraderie and I love Kelley’s wise gentle teachings!
What is your meditation practice like?
I meditate daily, usually a guided meditation or visualization, and sometimes some tapping/EFT.
How has yoga and meditation benefited you?
I feel like they help me to be centered and calm in the midst of a storm. And they help me to find my breath too in crazy times.
What practices have benefited you the most?
Finding 15 minutes to do some kind of yoga almost every day and my meditation practice, the biggest thing especially during covid has been a gratitude journaling practice
What are you still struggling to cope with?
Trying not to future trip.
What brings you moments of joy?
Driving in my new car listening to good music. Having a face to face (mask on) hang with a friend .
What is something you’d like to share with the community to help them along their healing journey?
I really think finding the things that bring moments of joy, and taking in what that feels like, so you can recall that feeling in all or most of your moments. Sometimes I think I’m such a cliche but I really do feel happy 98% of the time.
How has Covid-19 affected you physically and emotionally?
In the beginning I was constantly on edge and scared and on the verge of tears, or actually crying. I feared my job would be wiped away for months, I was in shock and I was exhausted. It was like one event a day was my max. And by event I mean picking up curbside. That really was a short period for me though, I have since focused even more on joy and meaningful exchanges with people and I feel more determined and hopeful than ever. Physically I can feel stiffness and soreness from not practicing yoga regularly or going to a gym. I have been taking long walks and eating well though and have lots of energy.
How has being a cancer survivor prepared you to better deal with the pandemic or how is it making it harder to cope?
I feel like it has prepared me to better deal with it because I know I can do hard things and I just don’t let external things like news and fear affect my inner core.
What is something surprising you’ve learned about yourself as a result of the quarantine experience?
I’ve learned that I’m even more resilient than I thought. And resourceful and patient and driven to succeed and radiate joy.
WILD CARD: Would you rather be a mermaid or a unicorn? Why?
I kind of already am a unicorn – haha – I’ve always identified with the unicorn symbolism of uniqueness, rarity, delight and beauty. In my job it’s very easy to be like thousands of others and I’m just not and I love that. Also I’m kind of scared of the ocean so nope, never a mermaid.
