My challenges and learnings from my last year

This time last year I had just found out I needed a mastectomy. At the time, we decided a last-minute Easter camping trip was just what we all needed. Time away to feel ‘normal’ and try and put everything that was ahead of me to the back of my mind for a few days.

Here I am one year later supposed to be camping. It’s been a long time between holidays and quite the year. We were so looking forward to escaping again and having some time away, although Covid had other plans. Just before we were about to head off we discovered that Braden had Covid, so our holiday plans were scrapped and here we are in isolation.

I could be annoyed, I could even be angry but last year has taught me something that makes getting through anything life throws at me so much easier.

I have learnt that there is one thing that NO ONE can take away from you.

Your MINDESET and your thoughts are something NO ONE ELSE has power over and this is a pretty powerful gift.

To say the last year has been challenging would be an understatement but what I have gotten out of it and learnt is something I wouldn’t change for the world.

We ALWAYS have a choice in how we deal with situations.

We might not choose the situation. I didn’t choose cancer, but I had a choice how I dealt with it.

Our lives, our bodies, our health is a result of our choices and when you realise this you have so much more control.

Right now, I have a few reasons to be frustrated and annoyed.

A couple of weeks ago I found out I have a 50/50 chance of having the BRAC1 gene. When I first found out, I was annoyed and angry. Why didn’t I know this a year ago? … but that anger and frustration only lasted a couple of days as I realised it wasn’t doing me any good.

Instead, I had the test. I’ll have to wait 12 weeks and, in that time, I can continue to work on myself. I’m focussing on increasing my strength and building my businesses. When the results come in, I will deal with the choices I need to make then.

Or I could be frustrated and angry for 12 weeks and annoyed at the world along with constant worry about what other surgeries I might need.

I know which one will make me feel better.

Life can be challenging. It can be downright hard at times, but we ALWAYS have a choice on how we deal with it.

I’ve been challenging myself to focus on what I can do. It doesn’t mean I don’t get annoyed, angry, or pissed off, but I just try and limit the amount of time I do as it doesn’t do me any good.

Here I am one year after my mastectomy and I’m back in bikinis which I wasn’t sure would ever happen. Next phase is to get STRONG again! Things do get better with time…

If things are happening in your life and it feels out of control, realise YOU HAVE THE POWER to take it back.

• If you’re working too much
• Feel like you don’t have time for yourself
• Struggling with life’s challenges

Realise YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE. You choose what you spend time on and what you spend time thinking about.

Don’t give your power away to others. You have a choice on how your life can become.

My journey last year was tough but sitting here on the other side is amazing.

My journey bought my passion for helping women back. I’m LOVING  The Menopause Diet community and feel so lucky to be doing all the things I love.

Never EVER give up on your dreams and always remember, YOU ARE IN CONTROL.

💗 Hilds