Spark

One of the hardest parts of trying to survive your cancer is you lose so much of your dignity and essence in those hospital walls. The final yay to leave can actually be the hardest. The lights are not kind, and you end up staring at yourself, raw.

We cover the hurts with scarves and necklaces, rally with hats and pops of color. Still, it's a process-trying to figure out how to just be ok with that person in the mirror.

So I chose to smile and nod. Remembering how I smiled at my babies when they first looked at me. I told them, you're beautiful and perfect.

So I do it to myself now-and I have decided to believe it.

And just like that, you get your spark back.