Happy 4th of July, everyone! Justin and I snuck out of the house to our favorite swell little spot in Waikiki today (IYKYK…) for some brunch and music to celebrate. We’ve been trying to have days of “normalcy” where we plan something that would resemble a “pre-covid” date, and this has made all the difference since I’ve started chemo.

Of course, we have to be cautious, make sure my blood counts are good, wear our masks, and avoid heavy crowds, but going out lightens the mood and keeps us in good spirits despite the many other responsibilities we both have right now.

Generally, I’ve been feeling really well this week and was even able to go into work for one day! A very big step (even if I was pretty exhausted by the end of the day)!

I’ve been trying to focus as much as possible on my mindset, beliefs, and visualizations (read: goals) surrounding my treatment and the cancer in general. I’ve been doing a lot of meditation and EFT tapping and have been very specific about the thoughts and words I use to describe my treatment and also my outcomes. The mind is a very powerful tool, y’all!

Today, even though there will be no official fireworks shows or parades, it feels more important than ever to celebrate every freedom and privilege we have after all of the ups and downs of COVID and cancer and life in general for the past few months…

I know that Independence Day has been a touchy subject this year and that a lot of people are feeling very mixed emotions about patriotism and our country’s politics as a whole right now. I will not downplay the very real pain that BIPOC and LGBTQ populations are feeling now. I do, however, want to reflect on some of the reasons I am grateful to be an American:

I am thankful to live in a country that allows me to speak my opinions freely and to use my voice to stand up for myself, women, and minorities.

I am thankful to live in a country where I can vote in my leaders, support them when they’re doing well, and challenge them when they are failing.

I am thankful to live in a country where I can have friends and family of any race, gender preference, religion, social status, or otherwise. I love you all!

I am thankful to live in a nation where we fight for equality, no matter how much work there is left to do.

It is not lost on me that everything I mentioned above may not be available to me had I been born elsewhere. These things we take as “fundamental rights” are not ever guaranteed, and I am so grateful to see the people I love around me speaking up to protect these rights and freedoms for all of the people in this country. May we all just try to love and understand each other ❤

I hope you all have an incredible weekend celebrating your freedoms! Please, wear your mask, & celebrate responsibly!

xo