Today's entry in A Year of Positive Thinking is about seeing your surroundings with the eyes of a tourist. "Imagine everything around you as if it were the very first time you've ever seen it." So my daughter and I gave it a go on a quick walk she likes to take for a 10-minute break from her workday. As I've mentioned before, we have a tranquil path that runs behind our house, with a small forest on one side and backyards on the other. While on the path, I put the idea to Melanie.

— "Imagine that we were new to Ottawa and staying in an Airbnb, and we walked out and discovered this cute little path."

— "And what if this were the first time we were in a country with four seasons?" she added.

— "And we would find all these cold-weather clothes—such as coats, hats and gloves—precisely in our sizes that we could use to enjoy the world outside our door," I chimed in.

It made our walk wondrous and joyful. The colours of the trees were breathtaking—red and gold and deep green. The air was fresh and cool, but no match for a down coat, wool hat and leather gloves. The smell of cedar was deep and satisfying.

The first person we need to convince of our beauty is ourselves—not others. [Susan] Kano says, "Anyone we see with love, we see as beautiful." If we love ourselves, we can't help but see all of us—including a lumpy, bumpy belly—as beautiful.

Here are a few other things that I find awesome. The meal I eat at home when we've considered getting takeout because we don't want to cook but come up with something great nonetheless. Never losing my favourite pair of gloves. The first snow of the season—it never fails to excite me. That point in doing a jigsaw puzzle when the remaining pieces almost place themselves. Occasions when the thing I'm shopping for is on sale. A pull-through space in the parking lot. Using up food in the fridge before it spoils. Having a Queen-sized duvet all to myself (one bed, two duvets, three times the peace).

As a leader, particularly in my last role, I accepted many things: stellar results as well as occasional misses, circumstances within my control as well as situations beyond my control, and extraordinary performance as well as best efforts that nevertheless missed the mark. Whenever we as a team fell short of where we needed to be, I tried to acknowledge, if only to myself, my own shortcomings—such as providing insufficient or unclear direction—and to roll up my sleeves to work with employees to get initiatives back on track. And I tried to remain grateful and to show gratitude for the efforts my employees put in day after day to deliver the impossible and the unreasonable.

Mel and I were up a little earlier than usual this morning because she had an 8:00 a.m. dentist appointment. As we ate breakfast, Mel told me that she had gone to bed at a good hour last night so as to be rested when her alarm went off. She referred to that as "being kind to her future self." I had never heard that idea, but loved it immediately. I imagined using the concept to motivate Present Jen to make better decisions today to benefit Future Jen tomorrow. The concept also works in reverse, said Mel. Present Jen can thank Past Jen for positive actions taken yesterday.

I have benefited from the healing that comes from humour, community and connection with other people—both those who have had cancer and those who have not. As I've shared my story, so many people have shared theirs with me. Together, we've laughed, commiserated and connected. I've also been well served by writing this blog. Reflecting on the sad, scary, uncertain aspects of cancer has enabled me to acknowledge these emotions and let them go. Celebrating each little victory has made me appreciate all the good in my life. And talking about things that have nothing to do with cancer and everything to do with living a grateful life has helped me to live in the moment.

As any person with cancer knows, a cancer diagnosis also affects family members and friends. Sometimes, the complex feelings and lifestyle changes caused by cancer and its treatment become as overwhelming for others in your life as they are for you. Understanding the potential changes in the way you relate to specific family members and friends may help you take steps to grow healthy, mutually supportive relationships during this challenging time.

— American Society of Clinical Oncology

After his right leg was 80% amputated, Terry said to me, "Thank God I have 20% of my leg left. The doctor left just enough thigh muscle for me to be able to swing the artificial leg so I can run." Most people would focus on the 80% of leg they had lost. Terry focused on what leg he had left and what was possible with it.

— Doug Alward

"I'm sorry" is not an expression that we need to expunge from our vocabulary. One of the most courageous things we can do is say, "I'm sorry" when we've made a mistake or offended someone. I've screwed up, and saying sorry to the other person was exactly what I needed to do to restore the relationship. Contrary to Reid, I believe that an appropriate apology is a sign of strength, not weakness, regardless of whether you're a woman or a man. Admitting an error is often a prerequisite to being able to move forward. And doing so gives others permission to admit when they've messed up too.

Life brings with it many distractions: turn off the distractions when you can so that you can be present for the ones you love.

What distracting thing have you turned off to be more present with loved ones?