Because I wanted to write a post capturing my birthday yesterday, I decided to delay this week's Saturday Synopsis by a day.

The photo in tonight's visual is from today's Bluesfest shift, courtesy of fellow volunteer Emma.

"If anything, some say, what we should learn from this year is to give ourselves and others space to heal in our own ways. Sometimes, 'the lesson is that I survived,' [psychologist Joy Harden] Bradford said. 'If that is all you took out of this, then really, that should be enough.'"

A famous quote says, "When one door closes, another opens, but often we look so long and regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us." The challenge is that when it comes to relationships―or jobs, hobbies or service providers―there isn't always another door waiting for us to walk through. In those moments, we need to have faith that there will be another door and that the only way to get what we truly want tomorrow is by not settling for less than what we want today.

And to everyone who has loved someone afflicted with ovarian cancer or who will support someone facing the disease in future, I salute you. You are our supporters, cheerleaders, lovers, partners, parents, grandparents, siblings, children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends, colleagues, neighbours, acquaintances and more. You encourage, comfort, cheer, console, uplift, inspire, applaud, and care for us. You help those of us with the illness to live fuller and better lives, and―we can hope―longer lives, thanks to the money raised this weekend [at the Beau's 5K for Ovarian Cancer Canada].

This time last year, I was oblivious to the cancer that was in my body. Just a few weeks after my 54th birthday, I received an unexpected diagnosis of ovarian cancer. So much changed for me in that moment and in the subsequent months. I stopped working at my job, and started focusing on my health. I got married. I launched this blog. I underwent surgery, followed by six rounds of chemotherapy. I learned that I have a faulty BRCA2 gene. I began taking a maintenance drug designed to suppress new cancer tumours. At just about every stage, I needed to trust the process and adjust.

When I got cancer in 2020, Freddie was 13½, already an old dog. I'm not sure why, but I wanted him to see me through cancer treatment. He did just that, and not once but twice.

"Your habits are not the only actions that influence your identity, but by virtue of their frequency they are usually the most important ones. Each experience in life modifies your self-image, but it's unlikely you would consider yourself a soccer player because you kicked a ball once or an artist because you scribbled a picture. As you repeat these actions, however, the evidence accumulates and your self-image begins to change. The effect of one-off experiences tends to fade away while the effect of habits gets reinforced with time, which means your habits contribute most of the evidence that shapes your identity. In this way, the process of building habits is actually the process of becoming yourself."

— James Clear

"She was so little back then I would put her on the countertop so she could watch me and hand me the ingredients that I needed from the cupboard." As a prize for helping, my sister would give me the beaters from the mixer to lick, my favourite treat being Dream Whip. She stated: "Regardless of her many accomplishments, she will forever be the little girl sitting on the kitchen counter helping me bake."