I am more than halfway to remission, as much as we can tell the cancer is gone, but the rest has stayed - the exhaustion, the scars, sometimes the fear...
I have learned many things over this time - mostly that I have a choice. I have a choice to have hope and to be positive. I have a choice to see myself as beautiful beyond my outer experience. I have a choice to look within myself and see the strength that others see in me. Once again, I find myself in the place of deeply wanting to see, and to be seen.
Early in my journey of cancer treatment I had a friend take a photo of me and I felt so awkward with my new short hair. Surrounded by women who appeared so confident in their bodies, I felt out of place, but there was such an ease in which the photographer spoke to me, she made me feel strong and connected, and I love the photo. When I look at it, it feels like me, a me I had almost forgotten was there.