2023 in Review

As I sit and think of a good post to end the year with I find myself trying to come up with one word to sum up the year. The only thing that seems to resonate with me is how extremely fast 2023 went by, when I look back we seemed to do quite a bit of travel it just feels as though it’s a distance memory already. I have done what I can to try and slow down time by being present in each and every moment, but it sure doesn’t seem to help the cause. Early into next year it will be four years already since being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and that thought makes my head spin. I sit now at 82 injections of medicine to keep me and my symptoms stable for which I’m very fortunate. Stable was a word I could use to describe the year, but boy that just seems far too boring and although it’s a good word it doesn’t do enough justice to the year I had.

A year of highs and lows an emotional rollercoaster from getting the news I had some shrinkage in one of my larger tumors, taking a float plane into the vast wilderness of Northwestern Ontario and taking a 10 day canoe trip out, my first time to Mexico, hitting the Great Smokey Mountains and many other smaller trips. Then the low point of losing a very close friend, mentor and co-lead to Neuroendocrine cancer a stark reminder that although it can be a slow growing disease it is a deadly one. A reminder to cherish every day, hour or minute, I think of my friend often and remember the line she gave me ” We’re not dying from cancer, we’re learning to live with cancer.” It’s a phase that I use often when giving a public talk or being a patient advocate bring awareness to a still rare disease and one that is still a step ahead of us. I will once again be telling a patients story in the new year when I travel to another Pharma company and help inform them of the help we need and put a face to this cancer.

My intention for this month was to be more active here, but to be honest December has been uneventful and like the weather gloomy therefore providing very little inspiration. That being said I hope to find some renewed passion and content when I fly out on the 31st heading back down to sunny Mexico for a two and a half week retreat. One that will see me backpack and bus trip along the Pacific coast, hanging out in small beach towns for a bit and staying in hostels, I even hope to learn how to surf. Much more on this in the new year.

So to wrap up this final blog of the year I’d like to thank all my readers for stopping by to check out my updates, taking the time to comment and sharing in my life and the journeys it has brought me. Looking forward to the year ahead hoping for some good content and another year where this disease remains stable. This year marks the best year for the blog bringing in over 12,000 views from all parts of the globe and I hope to surpass that number next year. My YouTube channel is off to a slow start, but that’s ok it’s meant for my enjoyment and for anyone who wants to follow along on my adventures in a video format, bringing a visual element to my travels and adventures. I will not forget where this all started almost three years ago now when I was just looking for an outlet of creativity enabling me to tell my story in hopes of helping or even inspiring others to live a full life regardless of what life throws your way. I wish you all the best in the new year and hope that 2024 will be the greatest one yet!

Oh, I almost forgot, the word I would use to sum up 2023 is “Emotional”. It was a good year and one filled with, as I said earlier highs and lows. At times tears of joy and triumph, also tears of sorrow and sadness. Scattered amongst all the writing here are some of my favourite photographs of the year, along with a link to my channel. I hope you all enjoy the content I attempt to provide you and only hope to make it better as time rolls on by here. Enjoy! and Thanks, Cheers Steve