This time of year always reminds me of the many gifts life has brought me.
Sure, things are difficult at times. But we simply can't let those difficult times be our focus. This realization is a gift from my mother.
At the time of my diagnosis, and in the many years since, she has again and again (sometimes with just a knowing glance or a soft smile), let me know that I can do the difficult things. She has told me, with confidence, that I am strong, smart, capable. And she has reminded me that the thing that says the most about a person is how they behave or react when things are challenging.
