Embracing New Experiences: My Journey with Cancer

Hello again everyone, while I don’t have really any new health updates to tell you about I have been busy over the last couple weeks. When I started blogging it was to share my journey with cancer and how it could change my life not only for the worse, but maybe the better? When I say better what’s meant is open myself up to experiences and try and change my mindset. To help not only myself, but maybe others who are having a tough time. Whether it’d be a cancer diagnosis or some other type of life altering illness/change that you never saw coming.

Mont Tremblant

I have been away for about six days as I was invited to head up to Quebec, Mont Tremblant area to be exact. When I mention about opening myself to new experiences, this is what I mean. I was contacted by a subscriber, not sure if it was from the blog or YouTube channel. At this point they both go hand in hand with my journey anyway. He invited me the eight hour drive up his way to learn some bushcraft/wilderness survival skills, at no cost. My prior self would’ve found a way to talk myself out of doing this, I’m positive about that. Some of my friends thought I was crazy to head into the wilderness with a complete stranger. Myself? I had little doubt this was just a nice person who just wanted to do some good in the world. With the hope that I would be doing the same.

I like to think that reading people is a skill some of us are born with and after numerous e-mails back and forth I was packed and ready to go. This is what I mean by opening myself to new experiences and also looking for the best in people. He went out of his way to hand down some knowledge to me, a guy he only saw in videos or read about. Offering me a chance to learn and improve some of my outdoor skills. Also, I had the privilege of spending some time with a person just wanting to do some good in this world. Not many people would offer something up like this without wanting something back in return.

This illness I live with has given me these types of opportunities and being open to explore them has tilted the way I now TRY to approached life. Many of you probably think I’m social by nature and sure I can usually talk with most people. When I was younger most of my nights were spent out with friends, I won’t go into details. As I’ve aged though my inner circle has grown smaller and I’m more than comfortable being alone. You could even call it being a bit of an introvert. While I may not come off that way many times when I head out into public wearing that mask of positivity is a must. Whether it’s a good or bad day. Life always changes day to day and you have to learn to adapt. It’s that or I stand the chance of falling into a dark place.

Bottom Line, be willing to open yourself to new and challenging situations.

It’s the only way to learn who you really can be, don’t be afraid to fail.

Writing and Poetry

For those of you who live in the Stratford area I encourage you to come out to the Stratford/Perth museum on Sunday November 10th. A group of people who have been affected by cancer published a book of poetry. We were lead by Award winning author Heidi Sander, who is now graciously helping me start my very own book. More on that another time. The link to get the book is here https://wellspring.ca/london-region/ways-to-give/events-and-fundraisers/? at $20 a copy and all the proceeds going straight back into WellSpring resources, it’s more than worth the buy. If you attend the event you can expect to hear some very emotional, deep as well as uplifting poems. Written by people who for the most part had never written one before in their lives. Yours truly included, unless you go with the standard roses are red type :).

Wrapping it Up

Bottom line my message in this post is again to get out of that comfort zone. Despite all the world’s news nowadays there is still an overwhelming amount of good people. Whether it’d be sharing one’s knowledge or set of certain skills. Did I want to drive all the way to Quebec? Of course at first I thought no way, then I sat to think would I ever get a chance like this again? Probably not, once again I’m glad I took the opportunity gifted to me from a complete stranger and now a new friend. Interestingly enough some of the survival skills I learned may just come in handy over the next few years, lol. Did I ever think I be part of a published book? With my pictures on it also? Not a chance. Taking that jump into the unknown can prove to be very rewarding, not only for myself, but anyone who reads this and feels inspired to go try that project, hobby, education or job they never thought obtainable. Even if you fail who cares, by failing we learn so much about ourselves.

As always remember to subscribe let’s help me get to 500, be sure to like (on the blog site and Facebook) it helps drive my numbers and leave me a comment or question. I always try my best to respond as quickly as possible. Cheers, Steve