13thirty Threads: Life Was Perfect

Life Was Perfect – Vicki Ties It Together

13thirty member, Emily (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) reflects on her life before her diagnosis.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
– Maya Angelou

Think about that……the moments that take our breath away. Throughout our lives, Ms. Angelou’s words resonate with each of us in vastly different ways. For those of us who have faced the challenge of a cancer diagnosis, her words are a powerful anthem, a testament to who we were, and who we are today.   

When you sit in a chemo chair for hours on end, your mind tends to wander. As you glance around the treatment room, you can’t help but wonder…. How did I get here?  I would reflect on the days and months before my diagnosis. I recalled the thrill of mountain biking in Colorado, the exhilaration of skiing in Utah. The joy of hiking the Adirondack peaks with my husband and my beautiful Siberian Husky.  The majesty of Lake Tahoe as I said my wedding vows. I was checking off boxes from a bucket list beyond my wildest dreams……life was perfect. 

Then, the diagnosis. My entire world, as I knew it, ground to a screeching halt. I was challenged beyond the scope of anything I thought possible. Talk about taking your breath away!

But, in time, you do start to breathe again. As you go through life, you learn a lot about the world. The people you meet and the experiences you have combine to create a beautiful tapestry. I can tell you that you learn a lot more about yourself when you are forced to be still. Your wounds impart wisdom and your story nurtures hope.

Life was perfect. 

Correction…..life is perfect. 

Keep shining brightly my friend. Never dim your light. The best is yet to come! 

Peace, love, and light.

Be well,
Vicki