Parenting Guru: 10 little things I love about my post-cancer life!

Boston Irish



Having a cancer diagnosis is life-changing. No surprise there. What I didn't anticipate, however, is when the shock of the diagnosis-treatment phase shifts to wait-and-see recovery mode. That's when your appreciation for little things really kicks in. It reminds me of when I first donned a pair of eyeglasses and rediscovered the details that I'd been missing all along. I distinctly remember looking at the branches on a nearby tree and noticing each individual leaf for the first time. "Is this what I've been missing?" I asked myself. "I'll never take it for granted again."

So now, two full years after my last chemotherapy treatment, I still experience that clarity of vision, that 'aha' feeling, quite a bit. Here are a few everyday things I appreciate more now than ever before:

  1. Funny cards. I love getting them. I love sending them. It's a phenomenal way to brighten someone's day and let them know they're on your mind.

  2. Chocolate. Need I say more?

  3. Paying it forward. Whether it's buying someone a cup of coffee or jumpstarting their car, it just feels good to give back.

  4. Hugs. Especially the unsolicited ones from my teens.

  5. Sleeping late. There's just something so delicious about not having to be anywhere or be accountable to anyone's schedule. Ahhhhh.

  6. Spontaneity. I rarely say 'no' to an invitation-on-the-fly.

  7. Being snowed in. You can't beat the comfort of snuggling in front of a warm fire while snow drifts against the window.

  8. Children's laughter. There's no purer sound.

  9. Watching the Ellen DeGeneres show. Her humor and spirit are contagious.

  10. Birthdays. Keep 'em coming!

Has your life ever thrown you a curve ball? What do you appreciate differently now?

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Boston Irish is actually Maureen O'Brien, a Shine Parenting Guru, mom of twins, and the founder of www.destinationparenting.com. Her musings can also be found on Galtime.com. She is passionate about all things parenting.