Jenesis: living beyond ovarian cancer

Jennifer Hollington

My story of living beyond ovarian cancer.

[2024-03-28] Finding clarity through writing

Anne Frank said, "I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn." I nodded knowingly as I read that quote tonight, as writing helped me find clarity within confusion today. The source of my confusion? Income tax. ...

[2024-03-27] Curiosity inspires learning

At coffee this morning with a friend and my daughter, Mel said: "curiosity inspires learning." We had been talking about the importance of curiosity in a child's development and the role that teachers, parents and adults can play in awakening curiosi...

[2024-03-26] Recognizing talent and potential

I had my 15th tutoring session today with my delightful 5th grader. It's been a fascinating, rewarding and challenging experience. And by "challenging," I mean that in the most positive sense of the word: stimulating, interesting, thought-provoking. I...

[2024-03-25] Stories: a gift from the past

This morning, I shared the story of my various health journeys with someone new. Recounted in a matter of a few minutes, rather than experienced over almost four years, my tales of ovarian cancer, perianal skin cancer and breast cancer avoidance sound ...

[2024-03-24] Pleasure in the practice

Everywhere I looked today, I was reminded of the value of practice. This morning, I received an email from The New York Times extolling the virtues of repetition. Sam Sifton, founding editor of New York Times Cooking, encouraged readers to make biscui...

[2024-03-23] Saturday Synopsis #88

While walking through Carlingwood Shopping Centre today, my daughter and I came upon a group of cadets selling chocolates to raise funds. We stopped. — "I would be happy to buy a chocolate bunny and to give it to you," I said. — "Oh, no, we couldn't p...

[2024-03-22] Montreal food tour

We spent the day in Montreal: Chris, at Montreal Audiofest, Mel and I, on a self-guided food tour. Mel organized our tour, mapping out interesting and tasty stops in advance. Our plan was to sample a variety of foods, something small in each place. Ha...

[2024-03-21] The stories we tell ourselves

In his weekly newsletter issued today, James Clear quoted Gabriel García Márquez, who said: What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you remember and how you remember it. I'm accustomed to reading and hearing the maxim that your exper...

[2024-03-20] Rules for a happy life

Helen Mirren's top five rules for a happy life, reflected in a commencement address she delivered in 2017, came up on my social media feed yesterday, and it seemed fitting to share her wisdom today, on International Day of Happiness. Rule #1: "Don't ...

[2024-03-19] Two years after radiation treatment

Today, I had my quarterly follow-up with Dr. Jin, a radiation oncologist with The Ottawa Hospital. She has been following me since my radiation treatment in 2022 after my surgery for perianal skin cancer. Since my 25 rounds of pelvic radiation in Jan...