An article brought to you by Dara Kurtz. Dara Kurtz is a breast cancer survivor and provides Survivor Mentorship & Support at Cancer Services.
Let’s be honest: when we think of the word “cancer,” joy isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, I can think of a lot of other words… four-letter words, to be exact.
Whether you’re in active treatment, living with side effects from treatment, or adjusting to survivorship, joy can often feel out of reach. But what I’ve learned, both personally and from the wonderful people I get to work with, is that joy doesn’t disappear during the hard seasons of our lives. Joy doesn’t go away just because cancer showed up. We might have to look a little harder to find it, and be intentional about creating it for ourselves, but it’s still there. I promise.
I’m not a fan of forced positivity and pretending everything is okay when it isn’t. But when it comes to joy, we owe it to ourselves to make space for it in our lives. I’m not saying it won’t look a little different than it used to, but there are ways you can experience joy.
Sometimes, it’s the big moments during a cancer journey: ringing the bell, a clear scan, a good visit with your doctor. These moments matter and should be celebrated. But often, joy is quieter than that.
For me, joy is the first sip of hot green tea I brew for myself each morning. It’s a conversation I have with one of my daughters who calls me to check in and tell me about their lives. It’s a walk outside with the sunshine on my face or a text from a friend who knows exactly what I want to hear.
If we aren’t careful, these moments can be easy to miss.
Your life might be hectic and busy, and you might be trying to balance everything you have on your plate right now. Joy might be the farthest thing from your mind. And I get it. It’s easy to focus on what isn’t working and what feels really hard. But the secret is to pay attention to little nuggets of goodness that bring happiness to you… Regardless of how small they are.
That’s joy.
That’s where the magic is.
And it’s there for the taking, even if you’re in the middle of dealing with cancer.
The key is to teach yourself how to notice these moments. One way to do this is at the end of each day. Before you fall asleep (while you’re thinking about what you feel grateful for), ask yourself this question: What is one good moment I experienced today?
Over time, asking yourself this question every day and looking for moments when you felt happy, will help you shift your mindset. In fact, I predict you will begin to seek out more glimmers of joy throughout the day. It’s funny how this happens, but with a little intention, patience, and practice, it will.
Another way to take charge of the joy in your life is to give yourself permission to have fun again. Whatever that means to you. Turn on some music and dance around your house, make plans with a friend to do something enjoyable, sing at church, or get lost in something creative.
This might not be the life you planned for yourself, but it can still be a life filled with meaning, connection, happiness… and yes, JOY!
To read more tips from Dara Kurtz, check out our Empowered Living Page. You can also check out her substack page here!
Choose One (or All) of our May Challenges!
- Read Dara’s April Empowered Living article about “Taking Charge of Your Joy”! DONE!! EMAIL US TO REQUEST YOUR STICKER!
- Create a watercolor masterpiece with the May Art & Wellness workshop (virtual or in person at Cancer Services, Inc. office).
- Read The Cancer Dietitian’s nutrition myth busting article: You Don’t Need a High Protein Diet!
- Watch one of our expert interviews on a topic that interests you! Find them here: cancerservicesonline.org/expert
- Register and complete your assessment for the Get Real & Heel functional fitness program!
