By Maile Sundquist
There’s nothing like getting a cancer diagnosis that will motivate someone to start living their life to it’s fullest and pursuing their dreams with renewed vigor.
In 2023 I received a colonoscopy and a cancerous tumor was found. It was removed and based on the remaining margin and type of cancer it was highly recommended that I opt for surgery to remove the affected section and nearby lymph nodes to check for spread. Thankfully there was no spread and my most recent 2nd colonoscopy check of two over a five year period was clear. Praise God! I only have one more to do in three years before I am dubbed officially cancer free, and I feel hopeful.
Needless to say this period of contemplating my mortality pushed me into serious self-reflection, and I began trying to figure out what was most important in my life, and what kind of legacy I wanted to leave behind. Whether we intentionally mean to or not we will all leave a legacy behind when we die. The difference will be between those who lived selfishly, and those who did not. Those who attempted to be intentional and life-giving in their actions, creations, and words, and promote love and truth, and those who did not.
My dear mother, who at the time of my diagnosis was mute and bed-bound by her Alzheimer’s disease had always feared death. As a Christian I am excited for the next level of spiritual existence. Fear itself is such a thief of joy and experiencing life to it’s fullest. I had wished more for my talented, loving mother while her mind still worked. She enjoyed her life, but she spent much of of her life wishing and hoping for things she was too fearful to pursue. Her kids were her greatest joy, and so I don’t believe she died with regret, but her life could have been more fulfilling had she not let fear dictate so much.
It’s the fear of what ifs. But what if everything worked out? We forget to ask ourselves the counter question to the fear-based question we are always so prone to ask first, and which often wins over observing the possible positive outcomes of our choices. What causes me more fear than any possible negative outcome of a decision, is to be at the end of my life with a trail of regrets behind me. If you see the trail of regrets beginning in your life, it’s not too late! It’s never too late until we’re dead! Regrets of what could have been are painful, but we musn’t lose sight of what still is and what could still be. We must always keep perspective and count our blessing, and never stop trying to be and do our best.
I hope it does not take a possibly lethal diagnosis to motivate you to live your best life and pursue your dreams with all your might. As my husband always says, “there is no better time to start than now.” And as I always say, “There’s nothing to fear, but fear itself.”
Don’t let anything stop you from making your dream come true friends!
“Live BRIGHT!
