by Do I have what it takes? With every new challenge that presents itself, I ask, “Do I have what it takes to tackle this next obstacle fearlessly?” I guess you could say I’ve learned how to manage fear the hard way. I was 33 years old and newly-married when uncontrollable night sweats and fevers sent me to a series of doctors. The diagnosis was sarcoma, a rare and often fatal form of cancer. I was told my odds of beating the disease were 50/50. Worse, there was no clear path or blueprint for how to proceed. For the past 7 years, I have slogged through 11 distinct courses of to shrink the tumors and six grueling surgeries to remove them. Six relapses later, I continue to beat the odds by not giving in to the disease — by living a fearless life. This is no easy task. I do it minute by minute, day by day. Much to my surprise, I’ve discovered that my life has become richer and more rewarding since my diagnosis. What I once viewed as obstacles,celine bag price, I now see as opportunities. I noticed that when I took fear out of the equation and “went for it”,celine handbags;, I was more creative, more inspiring and more effective both at home and at work. I was able to express myself more fully, resulting in a happier, more satisfied life. When I began to embrace fearlessness, it paid back in every aspect of my life. I started to focus on the passions that I had rather than the “what ifs” that plague so many of us. Cancer didn’,celine handbags;t lower the bar for what I expected from myself, but raised it. And when I stopped being afraid of being authentic, I was more productive and sense that I was getting more respect. When my fears dissolved, life began to happen. I got promotions and raises at work. I created one of the fastest growing charities in the country to raise lifesaving funds for rare cancer research. I improved my relationships with my family and friends. I’ve turned a personal struggle into a better life for myself. We all have a choice in how we want to live our lives …,celine bag price; I have chosen to be fearless. I have applied this approach to every aspect of my life and, in the process, I’ve discovered that amazing things present themselves. My mission now is to encourage those around me to apply that philosophy to their lives and relish in the results. I’ve always been a strong, fearless type of person by nature. However, when I received my cancer diagnosis in 2004, I needed to consistently channel a confident attitude. I needed to create my own guidebook for fearlessness. I now truly look forward to sharing highlights of this guidebook with you. I truly believe that no two stories are the same. Everyone handles disease or hardship differently. However, my guess is that whatever you’re feeling, I’ve been there at some point and can relate to it. Thank you so much for welcoming me into the WebMD blog community. I so look forward to growing and learning with you every week. I can’t wait to share with you the lessons that I have learned throughout my journey so the next time you are dealt with a hardship, you can answer immediately, “I have what it takes to get through this”.