When tremendous challenges come their way, people either see themselves as victims or, they refuse to be a victim, but rather want see themselves as winners who have overcome in spite of.

Attitude has a very profound effect on our lives. I’m an optimist, always seeking to see the bright side of experiences. I never said, “Why do I have cancer?” Instead, what I said was, “There must be a reason why I developed cancer and I am going to discover why.”

From a young age I this was one of my character traits. Being diagnosed with cancer was no different. I saw cancer through the same lens. My attitude only became stronger and more positive in the face of this heftier challenge. They gave me a lemon and I made lemonade as they say. Now, I truly understand the meaning of that phrase.

When the doctor told me that I needed to have surgery, the first thing I said was, “Ok when? Let’s do this!” The way I saw it was: the faster the surgery was done, the faster I would be rid of cancer and the faster I could move on to other things.

My children, kept me going. The frightened look on their faces only served to strengthen my resolve. I felt, as a mother, I had no other choice but to become stronger. I wanted to live for them. I wanted to be there for them. And my family, as well as all my friends that where there for me gave me the courage and strength to be so determined. I focused on what I was going to have after my cancer: a better life, a stronger spirit and more opportunities.

To be happy, means being optimistic, positive, and grateful.
People have a tendency of looking at their problems, as just that, problems. They look for the trouble instead of looking for the solution, or, the purpose that comes with the problem. Cancer, or sickness, is no different.

People have asked me, “If the doctor would have told you that you only had 6 months to live would you have done the same things?” My answer is always, “Of course! Knowing that I would have so little time to live I may have been even more positive, wanting to squeeze every single delicious drop out of life.”

I feel that to live a healthy life, it is best to see things with the glass half full. When we look around us, there is always worse. When you have this awareness, your problems actually start looking really good.

At the end of the day, you choose your happiness. You choose to be happy or sad, positive or negative. You have to fight for what you want.

Stay positive and be happy, you will see life in a better way!

Love, Olga