Karen Rice: Discovering Faith, True Beauty, and Confidence During and After Cancer
Without questioning, this is how I conquered my diagnosis of cancer, twice. When going through a serious illness, you learn to know what faith truly is as well as the true meaning of beauty, confidence, and how you feel about yourself. I know this all too well because I have experienced trials and tribulations in my life. Through it all, I gained strength that I never knew I had, and much more confidence in myself, which led to loving myself all over again. I had a new beginning, all on my own.
After going through so much in my life, things were going well, until it happened. I had a head-on collision with not only breast cancer, but colon cancer as well, and this experience changed my outlook on life. I thought I had endured rough years before but going through cancer was the rest of the iceberg. There is nothing like it. You wonder, what in life had you done so wrong tohave this placed upon you. You began asking, why me. Yet through my tragedies and all that I had to endure, it all became an awakening for me, I received and gained the strength and encouragement I needed to conquer. Through it all, not only did I find the true meaning of life. Through all the chemo, radiation, and pain I endured, I still felt beautiful. I found myself looking in the mirror even more during this time because I thought what I was dealing with would change me drastically, but as I viewed the imperfections on my body that I now must live with, over time it got better, and instead of feeling sorry for myself, I embraced the experience. Whether we are dealing with an illness or any negative feelings about ourselves, our lives, and our bodies, we need to be our on-cheering section.
Through all my mishaps, I still feel beautiful, and it is real. I have come to realize that even going through such a dark time, I have a life to live, and I am going to live it to the fullest. When I think of the “gift of life” that was given to me twice over, I knew I did not have a moment to waste. I would never say having or going through cancer is a gift, surviving it, receiving a second and third chance at life, is the gift. Yet, through it all, I did not allow the disease to take away who I am, or what I stand for. I am a survivor, as well as an example to show that it can happen, and that I can go on and look and feel just as beautiful, inside, and out, and it shines brighter. Yet through my tragedies and all that I endured, I received and gained all the strength and encouragement I needed to conquer. True beauty is within and when you feel beautiful on the inside, it shows so clearly on the outside and I want to spread mine. Just because I had cancer, does not mean cancer had me. We as women should never allow anything, or any circumstance to steal our joy, nor our self-esteem, even while cancer is taking you through many emotions and many unanswered situations. I know for sure with cancer, many times you are too weak to even think about your looks, because you are not always feeling your best. Through any tragedy, we are and always will be beautiful and unique!
Women, we all know that our bodies take lickings, yet we keep on ticking. Surviving cancer has taught me not to blink twice on life, my eyes are wide open, living my best. I also realized after surviving cancer both times, that I was about to face new beginnings, new hope, do and see more with a whole new perspective on life. I was modeling, as well doing some acting, as well as working full-time during the time cancer hit me, and it slowed me down for a while, but I’m back with a vengeance to see how far it will get me.
Fulfilling my dreams right now is what I’m doing, even at the age of 66. I share my story with others hoping to make a positive impact on someone who is ill or otherwise, where they can proceed with life in a whole new way. I cherish each day, each moment, and through it all, I feel that I’m at my best. I am confident in myself, as well as grateful. I am starting over, doing things I should have done before cancer.
I recently wrote my third book, and I titled it, “Cancer, Yet Cancer Again, but I will not Die, before I’m Dead”. I titled it that, because I truly feel that you should not stop living, because you have cancer, and that is exactly what I almost did. I am a realist, a regular everyday woman, who has overcome many obstacles. The scars and mishaps that are now attached to my body due to cancer, are just that. They are symbols for someone else’s inspiration and hope. I will never be thankful for having cancer, but I’m thankful for some of the struggles I’ve gone through, because if I hadn’t, I would not have found my true strengths. Not allowing anything to stop me right now. I am a true example that you can survive cancer, not once, but twice, providing you get to it in time. I am not saying all is easy, I am not saying all will survive it, what I am saying is to have faith, fight with all you have, then hold on. I honestly believe, when and if you survive a horrific tragedy or a horrible disease such as cancer, it is for a reason. You have a purpose, and through that purpose, faith, compassion, strength, and true beauty is born.
Social Media.
Twitter/X: @KarenRi79930503
LinkedIn is here.
Books/Cancer Survivor ProductsWebsite:
www.karensfaithandsurvivor77.shutterfly.com
As well as:
www.zazzle.com/store/faithandsurvival_777
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz + @mikeruiz.one
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
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