The Next Thing

Brave, warrior, strong, fighter…. These are some of the words that people would say to me as I was going through treatment for cancer. I would cringe, as most days I was a puddle of emotion just trying to get through the day .... so when I read the book, 100 Days of Brave, by Annie Downs, I loved when she says: “I never felt brave.  But day after day, I just did the next thing, took the next step, said the next yes.”  Boy, I can relate to that statement.  Most days I am scared out of my mind!  But, by showing up and just doing the next thing… chemo, surgery, radiation, more chemo…. Just doing the next thing… I saw how God was truly carrying me through it all. 

But what happens when there is no next thing?  I was “done” with treatment, but definitely NOT done with cancer…. I could not see the next step, and I had no clue why I just went through that crazy ride.  Then in October 2020, I was introduced to Danielle Smith from Wellbeing Initiative.  Danielle gave a presentation about the role of a Peer Support Specialist. She explained right now, Peer Support is available for people who have lived experience with mental health and/or substance use disorder, but she went on to explain she hopes to grow peer support for other physical conditions such as diabetes and cancer!  HELLO…. There is my next thing!!!  So, I took the 60 hours - I passed the test - became a CPSS and now, I have started a Peer Lead Group and I’m calling it Cancer Talk.

The SAMHSA website explains “Peer support workers are people who have been successful in the recovery process who help others experiencing similar situations. Through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, peer support workers help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse. Peer support services can effectively extend the reach of treatment beyond the clinical setting into the everyday environment of those seeking a successful, sustained recovery process.”

This is my goal for this group - shared understanding, respect and mutual empowerment!  We had our first meeting on October 2nd…. And the group decided to meet the first Saturday of the month and see where we go.  We are taking the next step, doing the next thing and trusting God to carry us on.

I love to read - I love to learn and as I explained to the group, we are all the “Leaders” of Cancer Talk as we have all had to navigate the next step after hearing the words… “You have cancer”  - so my hope is we will share resources that helped us…. Here are some books we talked about in our first meeting:

Mindset by Carol Dweck

Mayo Clinic Handbook for Happiness by Amit Sood, M.D.

Notes from the Valley - A Spiritual Travelougue Through Cancer by Andy McQuitty

If you have heard the words “You have cancer” and want to join us for the next Cancer Talk on November 6th … Please take the next step and register here.