Life's Most Important Questions
I am and always have been a Disney fan!
Mickey Mouse and Tiana are my favorite Disney characters.
When I was given the green light to travel after completing cancer treatment, the first place I went to was Walt Disney World!
I had to spend some time being a kid again. I had to allow myself to just let go and celebrate my life after everything that I had been through trying to save it.
What a great place to experience the magic and create new and exciting memories.
Why am I talking about Disney, my favorite characters, magic, and memories?
It is because I have discovered my new favorite Disney and Pixar movie, “Soul”!
Well, I have rediscovered it four times already!
Why do I like this movie so much?
"Soul" is beautiful, deep, funny, and relatable.
It reminded me of how my cancer journey led me to where I am today.
There was a time when I was just going through the motions, following what society says are the things that a person should do.
I was not living. I was not taking risks. I was just existing.
I was focused on giving my time and energy to things that did not give me joy and I was WAAAY too focused on pleasing others.
I no longer enjoyed the work that I was doing because I was following the societal blueprint for success. Go to college. Get a good-paying “corporate” job. On and on.
You know the delusional money, power, and fame equation that is supposed to equal success and happiness. Good luck with that!
The problem was that it was not MY blueprint for what truly made me happy and what I wanted out of life.
Soul took me back to how I found my spark. The day that I decided that I was ready to live and live on my terms regardless of what others may think. The day that I got off of the beaten path and created my own.
It made me ask the question, “Why did I have to face death to start living?”.
I always knew that I was supposed to help people, but I was not sure how.
Some of the answers to life's most important questions were revealed after my cancer diagnosis and treatment.
It was also a time when the love that I had for travel deepened and took me to so many new places that I had never experienced.
I now have a happy and productive life on earth. I am a cancer doula and I support people all over the world that have been impacted by cancer.
I am their partner and trusted navigator on a journey that no one ever voluntarily signs up for.
I take more risks, I am fearless and yes, I have learned how to have fun while pursuing my dreams!
A cancer diagnosis does not necessarily mean that it is the end.
It may be a great opportunity to focus on you and what makes you happy.
It is usually a time when the blinders come off! Don’t be afraid of the view.
Embrace it, ask yourself those tough yet important questions, and create the life you truly want.
Are you living or are you a lost soul?
“I’m not dying today. Not when my life just started.” ~ Joe
Blessings!
Talaya Dendy
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