The plot lines of our lives change. Writers pivot. Stories are rewritten, and new narratives take shape. That’s where I found myself in late December after getting a breast cancer diagnosis following my routine, annual mammogram. Fast forward past the tests, a second opinion, two surgeries, radiation treatments, and a long-term care plan, and I’m doing well. And well on my way to a healthy, positive outcome.
This life event did not yield a profound insight driving me to write a memoir or self-help guide about overcoming X. I was lucky, first and foremost. I’ve followed my medical team's guidance and continue to educate myself with evidence-based information. I’m managing cancer, not battling it. I’m not a warrior. I’m a thoughtful and compliant patient. And did it say I am lucky? I can’t stress that enough. When one is handed a cancer diagnosis, the cards are sometimes stacked against you. I was dealt a pretty good hand. Again, I was lucky.
Along with medical bills and a few scars, another tangible result of this unexpected life event was the completion and pending publication of a children’s book series. Plot twist, right? I’m still working on my novel and absolutely love doing so. The children’s books are something I started working on last year to afford myself the joy of a quick win, getting something done sooner rather than later. As you might know, a novel is between 70,000 and 100,000 words. A children’s book, not so much.
The power of the quick win is a strategy picked up from working with a steady stream of new clients throughout my career. You stayed focused on their overarching business goal – the heavy lift, but you made sure you could deliver a low-hanging, quick win right out of the gate. Something that would quickly reinforce to a client that they made the right decision in selecting you over the others. Well, I’m my own client these days, and I used that old trick on myself. It still works.
So, while recuperating from my surgeries, I decided to polish off the Bayside Buddies series I had started last year. The “buddies,” a group of lovable woodland creatures, aim to show kids that volunteering and helping in times of need are fun and rewarding actions, even if you might not be perfect for the job. There are three stand-alone books in the series, and the publication date is TBD. I’ll keep you posted.
Until then, I am adding to the word count of my novel. Stay tuned.
If you are interested in learning about how I’m navigating cancer, I have been writing about it on a Caring Bridge page to keep my wonderful community of friends and family up to date. Email me if you are interested in getting the link.