There’s a paradox that a lot of women with cancer think about. What if you lived today as if it were your last day — but cared for yourself as if you might live forever?

For many of us who have faced cancer, life feels divided into “before” and “after.” Suddenly you see everything differently. 

It can feel like a tug-of-war. Do you live for today because nothing is guaranteed? Or do you play it safe, hoping to protect the years ahead?

You realize how fragile time is, how nothing is guaranteed. It’s tempting to swing to extremes: either gripping tightly to safety or throwing caution to the wind because “life is short.”

But neither extreme really serves you.

The truth is, you don’t have to choose. You can live fully in the moment and take care of yourself for tomorrow.

Living with intention isn’t about chasing every thrill, nor is it about hiding from risk. It’s about aligning your choices with what you value most. 

That means asking: What truly matters to me? How do I want to spend my precious energy, my finite time - whether it’s one more year or fifty? And then having the courage to say no to what drains you, and yes to what lights you up.

At the same time, intention also means protecting your future self. Eating well. Moving your body. Getting the rest your mind and spirit crave. Setting boundaries so you don’t burn out. Because chances are, you will live for many more years — and how those years feel depends on the care you take today.

So don’t waste the rest of your life by postponing joy, waiting until the calendar is clear or the to-do list is done. 

But also don’t waste it by neglecting the vessel that carries you forward. 

Hold both truths: today might be your last, and you might live to be ninety. Live accordingly.

If you’re struggling to find that balance between urgency and care, between savoring life and protecting your future, please reach out. You don’t have to navigate this alone.

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