As I reread past posts to pull together this week's Saturday Synopsis, two statements stood out for me: one that I had written and one that a Jenesis reader had sent to me:

The common factor in both ideas is that the achievement of our dreams depends on our loving ourselves. As Maya Angelou said, "I must undertake to love myself and to respect myself as though my very life depends upon self-love and self-respect."

"Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes."

— Unknown

[Author Peter] Veruki identified three benefits of an informational interview: (1) they help job seekers to increase their comfort talking with people in a particular field, (2) they provide insight into the kinds of topics that might come up in a job interview, and (3) they offer a chance to check compatibility with the organization. From my experience, informational interviews are helpful in two additional ways. First, they provide job seekers with practical information about competencies they may need to have to work in a specific field. Second, they give job seekers visibility among senior managers in their field of interest.

In her fitting poem "The Promise of Spring" (below), British poet Edith Nesbit likens the first hints of the fair season to a whisper, half-heard, like the caress of love's lips in a dream. Spring tells her story in the murmur of boughs, the softening of skies, the sun on the house, and the green of daffodils. She will bring the singing of thrushes, the greening of fields, the return of daisies, and the whitening of hedges. Spring will take our hands, lead us away from the snow and the cold, from old pain and hard winter, which will be forgotten and forgiven.

Beyond work, love and health, two ingredients give meaning to life: fulfilling our talents, and trying to leave the world a better place than when we entered it.

Do you have any advice for someone going through a situation similar to yours?

Find the joy in every circumstance—the compassion of a nurse, the professionalism of a doctor, the good news in a medical report, the encouragement of friends and family, the ringing of a bell to signal the end of treatment. Focus on the gift that is today, not the possibilities that might occur in the future. Appreciate all that is good and right in your life. Surround yourself with positive people. Laugh and keep a sense of humour. Accept the help that others offer—your grace is how you return their kindness. Remember that the sooner you get started, the sooner you'll be done. Thank and compliment others. Be the head of your medical team. Do everything you can to preserve your health, and maintain hope. Find a way to help others, as that will give you a purpose greater than yourself. Recognize how far you've come. Be proud of yourself. Never doubt that you can do hard things.

Oprah Winfrey said: "The struggle of my life created empathy—I could relate to pain, being abandoned, having people not love me." For me, the struggle of facing cancer created empathy—I can relate to worry, fear and sadness associated with an illness or the threat of disease. Becoming more empathic is the silver lining in the cloud that is cancer.

To improve your mood, exercise.

To think more clearly, walk.

To understand the world, read.

To understand yourself, write.

To help yourself, help others.

To learn faster, teach.

To be more present, get into nature.

To show you care, share.

To be respected, show respect.

To make a difference, be kind.

To protect your health, take charge of it.

To face a challenge, start with one small step.

To receive love, start by loving yourself.

To live responsibly, be considerate of others.

"My purpose in life is to help those who feel they don't measure up because, for so many years, I felt like this—being told I'd never amount to anything. It took years of rewriting my thoughts, and in turn, I became the compassionate buddha in heels."

— Jenesis reader

Today was a cold, though bright, winter day. When my daughter and I came home from a brisk walk at lunch, she suggested that I "relax in a sunbeam."

I've learned more about Portuguese grammar through repetition and exposure than by studying the language like a math problem. To be fair, I have looked up rules to help me understand a pattern, but my internalization of the language has come much more from using grammar in the exercises than from studying grammar. For example, I initially struggled with the many words in Portuguese for this, that, these and those. I thought that I would never remember the differences. But with practice, I have developed an instinct or an ear for which one to use at which moment.

"Your greatest contribution to the universe may not be something you do, but someone you raise."

— Author unknown

From time to time, I ask myself whether my continuing to tell my story serves any purpose. And then, today, I received a question from someone who is at the beginning of her cancer journey, facing decisions about treatment options. I know the feeling of being overwhelmed, of seeing the downsides of every potential choice, of fearing the unknown. What helped me, when I was at that point, was knowing that there were other people who had traveled the road before me—people who were living well, many years after cancer treatment.

What impressed me most about the woman I met today, beyond her grace, was her determination to live life to the fullest. Even in the midst of cancer treatments, she continued to travel and work. Her story gives me hope that I, too, will enjoy a long and purpose-filled life.