Pinktober

October is breast cancer awareness month. Pink is everywhere. Much is discussed and brought to the forefront about what it is to be a survivor of breast cancer. It should be understood that it is not always in one’s hands, the outcome of such a disease. Women with different backgrounds, ages, cultures, and lifestyles are all affected by breast cancer. Many thousands of these women have been lucky enough to get past the disease, while thousands more have had their lives claimed. I think it is important to remember that in this month of pink and breast cancer awareness, all of those who have suffered, regardless of the outcome, should be thought of. Even though my sweet mom is no longer on this Earth, she is my greatest example of health and wellness. My mom lived well. She incorporated exercise and nutrition into her every day. She danced and taught movement to hundreds of young girls. She taught aerobics and impressed many women with her strength and stamina. She gained new passions and taught herself everything there was to know about yoga and Pilates. With that she excelled and was recognized as a gifted teacher and trainer by many. She hated to be inside and lazy. So often, we would go for walks and enjoy the beauty of St. George. And sometimes when it was suggested that we go see a movie she would say, let’s go be outside instead of sitting in a dark theater. When I would come home from school, it would be no surprise to see my mom stretching her leg all the way up on the kitchen counter as she was writing something, or to see her trying out a different yoga pose. I try to live up to her legend by incorporating wellness and fitness into my life, but surely come up short compared to her. Had my mom’s encounter with breast cancer been an actual battle, she would have surely come out triumphant due to her profound strength both physical and mental, as many would attest. But we know that our Heavenly Father had a different plan with her in it at His side. We have faith in that plan and faith in our Heavenly Father that we will be with her again, glorified and well.