Author Gives Hope to Breast Cancer Survivors

Q: What important shifts in life did you make after you found out?

A. It’s crazy that we have to wait for these wake-up calls to make big decisions in life. Overnight I realized how important it was to do the things that really matter. That’s when I reconnected to my childhood dream of writing a book. That’s when I took a good hard look at my diet, fitness and lifestyle. That’s when I faced the fact that I was still single and the biological clock was slowing down. There’s nothing like a wake-up call to be a catalyst for turning ideas into action—not next year, or next month, but now. This year I decided to swim with the dolphins in Hawaii, and that’s exactly what I’ll be doing in August. And this mind set has been the biggest shift. So if you have a dream, a yearning, or a calling, then get started today and make it happen. You owe it to yourself. 

Q: Are you cancer-free now?

A. Yes I am cancer-free thank goodness. But two people who are close to me aren’t. So it’s a constant reminder that the choice of life and death is never ours and that’s why we need to live our life to the fullest—every day!

Q: Your new book, Gulp!: The 7 Day Crash Course to Master Fear and Break Through Any Challenge, you show others how to face their fears, no matter what they are. Can you give us an example of where to start?

A. The first step is to ditch the denial. The sooner you face up to the reality of your situation the sooner you can move forward. So in “Day One: Dare and Defy,” I share practical ways for how you can come to terms with your situation, put a stake in the ground, and make a firm commitment.

The second step is to face your fears. One of the biggest fears is stepping unknown. Yet to move forward in life, you have to leave the safe shoreline behind. One of the best ways to overcome fear is to make it real—so gather information, facts and figures and go for “test runs.”