Why I'm Thankful This Year - by Mariana Arnaut

On a recent trip to Vegas for a conference, we took a day off to do this beautiful hike.

When I think about this year, it’s easy to first remember the bad news that marked it. Cancer diagnosis within my friends group, family health issues, a dementia diagnosis, my grandparents relocation to a nursing home, and the list could go on and on.

So many times, the overwhelming responsibility of my job and of caring for my loved ones takes over and feels like a weight.

When we deal with difficult news, we often think - Why me? Why now?

I’ve learned that whenever I feel that things are going smoothly in my life and that I can pause to breathe - that’s breeding ground for something big happening soon. And so it is, I hear the bad news, go into crisis management mode (which I’m particularly good at), and drive through the storm.

This month, I really dove into the Why me? question. Not to complain or victimize myself, but to digest and seek closure.

And the only answer I found was to feel thankful for all these hardships. I’m thankful that it’s me and not someone else. I’m thankful for the ability to support my loved ones. I’m thankful for my large circle of friends and family. I’m thankful for this responsibility. I’m thankful for choosing to dedicate my life to cancer care. I’m thankful for all that comes with being human.

I love the quote “pressure is a privilege”. It’s a personal motto of mine. It’s what drives my passion and energy in building The After Cancer. Diving into this introspection also made me realize that caring for my loved ones is a privilege. It’s a privilege because they’re alive, because I care, because I can support them.

We all go through stuff… so this Thanksgiving, instead of why me, I invite you to say thank you.