Of all the quotes I pulled from posts written 3 years, 2 years and 1 year ago, the one that means the most to me is the last in the list below. Exactly one year ago today, I met with oncologist Dr. Faught, a constant in my treatment for ovarian cancer, and wrote this in my post for February 10, 2023:

Dr. Faught...said something that is rarely heard among ovarian cancer patients. "You could remain in long-term remission and, at some point, we might even say you're cured." To be clear, he did not say I was cured. And I didn't take it that way. But even the whisper of that other "c" word, as a possibility, is incredible.

And now—a year later—I find myself 3½ years beyond my ovarian cancer diagnosis, feeling strong and with a CA125 that has remained low and steady since December 2020.

It is worth following the advice of Lisa Lisson, whom I quoted on the last day of my radiation therapy two years ago and again today: "focus on all of the things you’ve overcome & conquered in your life so far." As she said, "Focusing on the good always brings more of the good into focus."

What is most pleasing to me with this blog is that while my stories are told through the lens of my experience with ovarian cancer, they are relevant and inspirational to many people. My hope for successful treatment of my cancer becomes someone else's hope that we will soon have some relief from COVID. My struggle to be patient as my body recovers from chemotherapy becomes someone else's resolve to be more patient as they recover from a head injury. My delight in having a chickadee land on my hand becomes someone else's delight in the beauty of an evergreen tree.

Questions of almost any kind are like a key that unlocks old memories and stories. You never know what interesting tidbit of information will emerge after a question is posed at random.

Jeremy Nobel—a doctor and public health practitioner—and his colleagues reviewed more than 100 studies and concluded that creative expression improves health by reducing depression and stress and boosting healthy emotions. Nobel states that when people write about their thoughts and feelings, they feel better and get healthier. In Writing as an antidote to loneliness, Nobel notes: "When people tell their personal stories through writing, whether in letters to friends or family, or in journals for themselves, or in online blog posts, or in conventionally published work, they often discover a means of organizing and understanding their own thoughts and experiences. Writing helps demystify the unknown and reduce fears, especially when we share those written concerns with others."

"One of the hardest things I see people struggling with is 'recovery time,' particularly as it relates to fatigue from cancer treatment. The rule of thumb I usually tell my patients is that it takes about two months of recovery time for every one month of treatment before energy will return to a baseline. Everyone is different but at least this gives you a ballpark. This is a lot longer than most people assume. Rightfully so, people want to resume their "old life" their "pre-cancer" life and feel like they should get back to everything they were doing before cancer. What makes it more difficult is that people around you: your boss, coworkers, family and friends may think this too. These unrealistic expectations can be VERY stressful on you (which may even steal more of your energy)."

~ Dr. Shelby Terstriep

Maya [Angelou]'s advice reflects self-compassion: we can't assess the choices we made in our 20s against the wisdom we have in our 30s. And it reflects maturity: as we gain wisdom, we make better choices.... All any of us can do is make decisions today based on the information we have in the moment, n6ot look back on decisions we made yesterday, knowing what we know now.

Last night, I had a lovely conversation with a friend—also a cancer survivor—who shared with me that, while she was going through treatment, she regularly told herself: "Do not die while you are yet alive."

"Here’s the thing about your heroes: You have to know about them to look up to them. The candidate pool is 100% limited by your exposure. That’s why so many kids look up to athletes, I think. They haven’t been exposed to enough other people to look up to them.... Who haven’t I been exposed to that would inspire me if I knew they existed or knew the details of their lives? And how could I learn about those people?"

~ Barrett Brooks

"Sometimes, in the mornings ...That’s when I mourn. I feel around my body, I move my fingers and my hands—whatever I can still move—and I mourn what I’ve lost. I mourn the slow, insidious way in which I’m dying. But then I stop mourning. ... I give myself a good cry if I need it. But then I concentrate on all the good things still in my life. On the people who are coming to see me. On the stories I’m going to hear."

~ Morrie Schwartz, whose affliction with ALS was documented by writer Mitch Albom in the book Tuesdays with Morrie

Something I’ve learned is that you have to take moments everyday to pause & be proud of yourself. To focus on the things you’ve done well. To focus on all of the things you’ve overcome & conquered in your life so far. Focusing on the good always brings more of the good into focus.

~ Lisa Lisson

We don't always hear the stories of people who thrive after dealing with cancer or who find greater meaning in their lives despite some new physical limitations. These stories are important. They give hope to others. I am lucky to have connected with a woman who had ovarian cancer years ago. Every day, she embraces life. Every day, she sees beauty in the world. Every day, she lives.

"I guess my philosophy is similar to yours: if you’re going to go through some s**t, you might as well learn from it."

~ Jenesis reader and cancer survivor

"Why be a victim when you can be a helper?"

~ Elizabeth Renzetti, "Lisa LaFlamme Is Just Getting Started," Chatelaine magazine

Whether we tell our own stories or whether we—like [Lisa] LaFlamme—tell the stories of others, we are serving a greater good. Stories reach people, connect people, move people. They help individuals see that they are not alone. They give them a new way of looking at the same old circumstances.

The Fast Company article got me thinking about my blog. I wondered what the AI would reflect if I fed it all 900+ Jenesis posts. It might come back to the same three themes: love is the reason we are here, live in the moment, connection keeps us alive.

If you're contemplating retirement, think of it less as withdrawing from your career and more as moving forward with a new phase of productivity, purpose and contribution—starting older.

Dr. Faught...said something that is rarely heard among ovarian cancer patients. "You could remain in long-term remission and, at some point, we might even say you're cured." To be clear, he did not say I was cured. And I didn't take it that way. But even the whisper of that other "c" word, as a possibility, is incredible.