Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself
It's the break we've been waiting for. The break we needed. After years of battling cancer and all the collateral damage, Kori and I have made it to paradise and our escape to Tulum has lived up to the hype!
I forgot what it feels like to wake up truly rested. To reach a complete state of relaxation. Our apartment in NY often doubles as a pharmacy, hospital and holistic treatment center so it's been quite a change to stay in accommodations where every detail works towards enhancing serenity and romance.
Times like these are what make life worth fighting for - feeling recharged and the fresh perspective that comes only when you're fully disconnected from the daily grind. But as anyone who's gone to war with chronic illness can attest, that part of you can only hide for so long. The other night we took an authentic Mexican cooking class with 4 other couples and as an icebreaker, the teacher asked us to go around and share what we all did for a living. When it came to me, I suddenly felt a need to remove the mask. I made a quick joke before explaining that I was fully focused on healing from cancer.
Others may have deflected, but I just couldn't do it. I immediately scanned the room and prepared for the awkward reception of everyone not knowing how to react. I braced for the guilt of having rocked the boat. Fortunately we still had an incredible night. It turned out another guest had beaten the odds of their own battle, miraculously recovering from Stage 4 cervical cancer. A beautiful connection was formed and we shared inspiration that may not have surfaced if I hadn't opened up.
When your identity has gone through BIG changes in a short period of time, re-introducing yourself to the world isn't always easy or graceful. I've always felt more comfortable in the realm of genuine, intimate communication so it's natural for me to want share who I am and what I'm about to new faces. At the same time, I always try to be mindful that it doesn't dominate the conversation.
It's something I'm still working at and don't expect to master right away, but that night I learned a valuable lesson... When in doubt, you can always pour everyone another round of mezcal.
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