Absolutely love this Lauren! 👍🥰 I found myself smiling as I read this and it’s reminded me to stop giving a fuck about these things again.. they creep back in somehow 🤦🏻♀️🙄😆
Yes! Happens too easily doesn't it! Have to keep reminding myself and take myself back to those dark times and as soon as I do, the important things come back to me and I let go of the 'shoulds' :-)
So much of this resonates. Last year I had breast cancer - it was removed successfully and I only needed some radiotherapy and tamoxifen which I’m on for 5 years. But that kind of health scare really does change your outlook massively. I think I’m on that sensitive empath side of neurodiversity, but never taken it for diagnosis. My daughter has an appointment (finally) in February for assessment. She has a lot more sensitivities like hearing/sound, touch, lots of anxieties and a habit of misinterpreting things to be negative. So what you’ve done to reframe life and live your way is brilliant. I wish you great health going forward and a happy creative life 💚
Thanks so much for your comment and hope you are recovering OK- does take some time to start feeling more yourself again afterwards- I feel like 2 years later I am just turning a corner on it all. Definitely changes your outlook. I hope your daughter can get the support she needs. It's only with hindsight I can see how much I masked all through school and my 20s. I do think neurodiversity can be a blessing when we know how to work with it, not against it, but certainly doesn't feel that way for a long time. xx
Thank you. Yes I do think neurodivergent people are able to teach us a lot about humanity and also how the brain works - plus most people are somewhere on some spectrum and it’s only in recent years we are realising how complex it all is. My daughter is bright- as so many neurodivergent people are - but has been made to feel like she’s stupid by so many people (teachers included) because she thinks differently, and often faster, than them. There’s a lot of work to be done!!
As a fellow stage 3 survivor this list totally resonates with me. It’s been a really freeing ride in some ways (totally terrifying in others), but it’s given me the ability to try because, quite honestly, I’ve faced a lot of “what’s the worst that could happen”
Exactly- we have faced what can often be seen as the 'worst case scenario' or at least very close to it. So coming through that gives a new sense of strength and resilience I think.
As a 3 year survivor of stage iv lung cancer this feels like you took a page out of my journal! I always say “I would give this cancer back if I could” but many positive life changes and discoveries happened because of it. You just listed 5 of them😊Wishing you all the best, I’m looking forward to following your journey. 💕
Thanks for sharing - yes you'd never chose to go through it, but I do think it can change your perspective on life for the good... doesn't take away all the crap but helps you live more alignment with what you truly care about. xx
Wow, this really resonated with me. My mum had cancer when I was young, and while it was a different journey, it definitely left me with some big life lessons too. Reading your post feels like seeing those lessons written down so clearly for the first time.
It’s inspiring to see how you’ve turned such a difficult experience into clarity, purpose, and unapologetic authenticity. The part about not playing small anymore really hit home—so many of us dim our light for others without even realizing it. Thank you for sharing this; it’s a powerful reminder of how our toughest moments can reshape us in the best ways. 💛
Cancer hit us too (last year). So scary. And so much you used to worry about just doesn’t matter anymore. I’m just so glad that my husband is still here that I’m trying to get better.
Absolutely love this Lauren! 👍🥰 I found myself smiling as I read this and it’s reminded me to stop giving a fuck about these things again.. they creep back in somehow 🤦🏻♀️🙄😆
Yes! Happens too easily doesn't it! Have to keep reminding myself and take myself back to those dark times and as soon as I do, the important things come back to me and I let go of the 'shoulds' :-)
Happy you made it through and these are such important points! Thank you for sharing I really enjoyed reading.
Thank you! I appreciate your comment- still quite new to Substack and figuring it all out!
So much of this resonates. Last year I had breast cancer - it was removed successfully and I only needed some radiotherapy and tamoxifen which I’m on for 5 years. But that kind of health scare really does change your outlook massively. I think I’m on that sensitive empath side of neurodiversity, but never taken it for diagnosis. My daughter has an appointment (finally) in February for assessment. She has a lot more sensitivities like hearing/sound, touch, lots of anxieties and a habit of misinterpreting things to be negative. So what you’ve done to reframe life and live your way is brilliant. I wish you great health going forward and a happy creative life 💚
Thanks so much for your comment and hope you are recovering OK- does take some time to start feeling more yourself again afterwards- I feel like 2 years later I am just turning a corner on it all. Definitely changes your outlook. I hope your daughter can get the support she needs. It's only with hindsight I can see how much I masked all through school and my 20s. I do think neurodiversity can be a blessing when we know how to work with it, not against it, but certainly doesn't feel that way for a long time. xx
Thank you. Yes I do think neurodivergent people are able to teach us a lot about humanity and also how the brain works - plus most people are somewhere on some spectrum and it’s only in recent years we are realising how complex it all is. My daughter is bright- as so many neurodivergent people are - but has been made to feel like she’s stupid by so many people (teachers included) because she thinks differently, and often faster, than them. There’s a lot of work to be done!!
That's right my friend! Our cancer, our rules. Stay well.
Thank you... damn right!!
As a fellow stage 3 survivor this list totally resonates with me. It’s been a really freeing ride in some ways (totally terrifying in others), but it’s given me the ability to try because, quite honestly, I’ve faced a lot of “what’s the worst that could happen”
Exactly- we have faced what can often be seen as the 'worst case scenario' or at least very close to it. So coming through that gives a new sense of strength and resilience I think.
As a 3 year survivor of stage iv lung cancer this feels like you took a page out of my journal! I always say “I would give this cancer back if I could” but many positive life changes and discoveries happened because of it. You just listed 5 of them😊Wishing you all the best, I’m looking forward to following your journey. 💕
Thanks for sharing - yes you'd never chose to go through it, but I do think it can change your perspective on life for the good... doesn't take away all the crap but helps you live more alignment with what you truly care about. xx
Hell yes to all of this. No longer playing small is the biggest one for me.
Wow, this really resonated with me. My mum had cancer when I was young, and while it was a different journey, it definitely left me with some big life lessons too. Reading your post feels like seeing those lessons written down so clearly for the first time.
It’s inspiring to see how you’ve turned such a difficult experience into clarity, purpose, and unapologetic authenticity. The part about not playing small anymore really hit home—so many of us dim our light for others without even realizing it. Thank you for sharing this; it’s a powerful reminder of how our toughest moments can reshape us in the best ways. 💛
Cancer hit us too (last year). So scary. And so much you used to worry about just doesn’t matter anymore. I’m just so glad that my husband is still here that I’m trying to get better.
I love this, Lauren! It took me 55+ years to gain your wisdom (including my own cancer diagnosis). This is definitely something people need to hear.
This is a Beautiful gift to pass on - the insights feels like it could touch anyone - it certainly touched me reminding me of what’s important
Love this!! Way to look a life-challenging disease in the eye and basically say, “oh really? Watch me live more fully!” 🙌🙏🙌
Thank you sharing, I totally agree with checking in with what aligns with you as well as all your other points! 💕 take care