If You Can’t Find it, Create it

I’ve faced many unwanted battles alone when I didn’t want to be. We as humans are inherently born to be social beings. Isolation is considered punishment to our souls. Unfortunately, the battles I have faced often bring many layers of isolation. The "why me" questions and the "I don't even want to think about this" feelings. Being diagnosed with cancer and having a son who is battling addiction are hard and uncomfortable conversations to have. You are suffering with pain and anxiety of the future and the idea of if there is even a future. These thoughts and feelings are piercing and you find yourself not wanting to burden anyone else with them, so you begin to isolate. When in reality, there are so many people going through the exact same thing. When I finally decided to open up, I discovered this. Since then, I have felt a fire burning inside of me to share this truth. To heal and help heal. I knew that first I had to love myself unconditionally before I could create a space to share my story and empower you to tell yours. It’s through these battles we all face in life that we learn being honest and vulnerable isn’t a weakness, it's powerful! That's why I created a space to help give a voice to the vulnerable, the scared, the ones who believe they are alone when they aren't. A space I have craved to find but couldn't. It is when we can't find what we are looking for, that we must create it.

Self-love is something I’ve neglected.“Self-love is something we continue to learn. Sometimes it comes naturally, other times we can’t feel it at all. Ironically, accepting how we feel about ourselves in each moment is the foundation of self-love.” -Dr. Nicole PePera. Throughout my struggles, I had to learn not only to love myself, but to also forgive myself. It wasn't just cancer and my son's battle that made me struggle with this notion. There are many chapters that led me to a place of rediscovery, and we will get there.

Navigating this world has been challenging the past few years. A recurring thought that often appears is how do I move forward? How do I help others move forward? I have created this community to use my voice to help heal, spread awareness and empower others. I will share my stories of skin (lip) cancer, my son’s struggle with addiction, and so much more in hopes that my words, my journey, the good and bad remind us that we are not alone. I promise to be uncomfortably real and raw, to talk about the things people don't want to but need to and mix some fun in there. Yes, life is still fun and still good! Let’s create a community of love and gratitude, we are stronger together.

- Regina