Your Own Resilient Spirit, by Kimberly Dixon

Nobody's existence is perfect, but before my 2017 diagnosis of ovarian cancer, I really loved my life that included teaching middle school, long beach walks with friends, taking my energy and good health for granted, living my best life. All of that came to a screeching halt when I felt a hard-rock lump on my stomach one night before going to sleep.  

Within a month's time, I had a surgery that took all my baby-making organs, a part of my colon, and a bit of my diaphragm. Chemotherapy followed, and what was left of my kidney function, dissolved into nothingness; dialysis followed--three times a week for four hours-- for the rest of my life. And now, almost three years later, my cancer has returned. Life has definitely not been the same since that first scary discovery under my belly button. 

But here is what makes all of this bearable: my Be Well yoga class for cancer patients. This is truly one of my most treasured blessings. I began attending when I could barely stand up two years ago. Though I've practiced yoga a good part of my life, I never thought I would be able to do so again following my surgery, etc. Thankfully, the classes are extremely gentle while coaxing students into more challenging poses. Our teachers are precious humans whose skills, compassion, and giant hearts help us to believe we can conquer mountains.  

The sweet bond I've been able to form with brave warrior women who attend these classes has seriously breathed new life into me and altered my mindset in such powerful ways. A lovely friend who is still fighting the cancer beast, was missing from yoga class a few weeks; I began to worry about her. Then she showed up with a tan. She'd been to the Galápagos Islands, she told me, and that had been on her bucket list. How could I not feel totally inspired by her resilient spirit? 

Somehow, cancer has become such a seemingly ordinary thing as I've joined courageous women who show up each week to practice the loveliest meditative moments combined with moving our bodies in ways that heal us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. There have been astounding discoveries for me on the mat: I can do impossibly hard things and survive, even thrive! 

With a grateful heart,

Kim