In Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Remembering, Healing, and Finding Strength

One thing we can all agree on — cancer sucks. 
 
It takes too much. Too many lives, too many moments, too many chances to say I love you or thank you or see you soon. 
 
For me, this month always brings up a mix of reflection and heartache. I lost my mom 15 years ago to cancer, and four years ago, my mother-in-law passed away from breast cancer. Two women who shaped my life in so many ways, both gone far too soon. 
 
Grief has a way of changing shape over time. It doesn’t disappear; it just becomes part of you. There were days it felt impossible to move through, and others where laughter somehow found its way back in. Our family learned how to come together in new ways — to show up, to hold space, to keep memories alive through stories and love. 
 
And through it all, I was reminded of how powerful community can be. Friends who show up with meals, messages, or a quiet presence, those small acts of care mean more than words can express. 
 
But grief and loss also have a way of stirring up anxiety and depression. The “what ifs,” the regrets, the fear of more loss, they can feel heavy. If you’ve walked through something similar, you know that ache. It’s okay to say it’s hard. It’s okay to not be okay. 
 
As a therapist and as a daughter, I’ve learned that healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means honoring the people we’ve lost by continuing to live, fully, kindly, and with intention. It means scheduling that mammogram, showing up for your health, and encouraging others to do the same. 
 
So this month, let’s honor all those who have fought, who are fighting, and those we’ve lost. Let’s celebrate the strength it takes to face fear and keep going. 
 
If you’re grieving, anxious, or just feeling the weight of it all, please know you’re not alone. There’s help, there’s hope, and there’s healing.