Inspiring -ectomies.

You know how people say how some people are just inspiring. Whether or not they truly mean inspiring or just a good person, we may never know; however, this weekend, I did meet someone who was truly inspiring. Being around her was like a breath of fresh air, like a calm AFTER a storm, and I felt myself breathe a little easier, smile a little more, and realize that no matter how many trials or bumps in the road I thought I had, there's always someone out there who has it worse.

She was just your typical-looking woman: short in stature, petite, shorts, t-shirt, flip flops. She walked over to the group of us standing there talking, and she hugged two people with a joyful "hey! how are you?!" I was introduced to her, and she began answering questions regarding how she was feeling, how she was doing, etc.

"I'm doing okay. I'm taking it easy, but I'm pushing it. I really am. But you know what? If I don't push it, I just won't feel like myself, and I'll start feeling sorry for myself if I don't DO something."

You see she was recovering from a bilateral mastectomy (removal of both breasts) and a complete hysterectomy (removal of uterus and ovaries).

But she was doing okay.

"As far as I see it, guys, I've rewritten my genetic destiny. I've come to terms with that, and I'm okay," she says with a smile at all of us. She had a certain way about her that made you smile. You didn't see her as "poor, dear you recovering from those -ectomies because of cancer." You saw her as "you're so cool and calm and inspiring."

You see, the definition of "inspiring" is as follows:

"to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence."
And that's exactly what she did. She filled us all with joy and even hope. She made us all breathe a little easier, made us worry a little less, and all-in-all just feel good abotu ourselves and life, in general. It was truly an esteemed pleasure running into this person that, although I'll probably never see again, was truly inspiring.