Springing "it" forward

Spring is one of my favorite seasons. It's the perfect time for renewing and refreshing order to our lives. For me spring cleaning and decluttering have begun. The weather is changing, daylight hours are longer, the birds have returned, nature is in bloom, and….drum roll please, I had my final round of chemotherapy Wednesday. Oh, and I dare not forget to mention I have a birthday coming up this week Saturday? That's right I'm an Aries girl through and through. It's not an ideal situation to have chemotherapy days before my birthday because Chemo wipes me out for several days. I'm expecting that my normal energy to turn up will be tuned down. But nevertheless completing chemotherapy is a huge milestone on this journey and I had to take the time to celebrate that win. It was pure joy to ring that bell signifying the completion of a difficult phase of cancer treatment. I didn't know it would feel so good. It brought me happiness and my heart has been full. It was the perfect pre-birthday kickoff. After months of just putting one foot in front of the other, I've cried many tears, been in pain, dealt with sadness, and tired to keep it together so I can beat this beast.

Initially, I was upset that I'd be spending another birthday during this pandemic. Last year for my birthday we were about a month into quarantine. I didn't expected in 2021 that COVID-19 would still be part of our lives nor that I'd be battling cancer. What a difference one year makes! I wasn't excited at the idea of celebrating another birthday via Zoom or with any type of restriction that's a direct result of COVID again. I miss traveling freely, without a mask or any of the protocols meant to help keep us safe. I understand and respect them but I'm over it. I miss the human connection of celebrating together.

After I was done stating the real about the things I miss, I stepped into my gratitude. I have so much to be thankful for. The fact that I'm alive to see another birthday is another milestone worth celebrating in any capacity, even if all I do is sleep most of the day. The old song by the Winans comes to mind, it says, "Millions didn't make it but I was one of the ones who did." After a year of so much loss, I can't take for granted that God has kept me. If you're reading this, you're here because of God's grace too. Hallelujah, we made it!

Spring is also time for reflection and I've been doing that anyway. It's impossible to go through something life-changing and remain the same. Cancer has changed me in ways I didn't know possible. I've been working on myself. Many of the most impactful transitions in my life have happened in the spring. So I'm Springing "it" forward. "It" being my goals, my life, my gratitude, and my perspective. I've had to pause, pivot, and adjust my expectations to take time to heal. The chemo phase of my journey is at an end as I go through this last cycle. I'm thankful for having made it this far. Radiation is the next phase in my treatment and I'll be starting that soon. I look forward to completing that milestone and every subsequent milestone after that including making it each year without recurrence.

I'm going to make it a habit to celebrate the small victories because they're worth the moment.

I hope you're taking this time to reflect, refresh and renew. In what ways are you "Springing it forward" this season? I'd love to hear about it.