E21 - A Tale of Resilience, Healing, and Authenticity

Introduction and Setting the Stage it was a Friday, it was, my whole family was home because we'd been snowed in. And I saw that number from the healthcare organization. I saw it pop up on my phone and I thought, this is it. And they told me I was so distraught, they actually had to call me back and let me collect myself. Because I knew in that instant that this could be really bad And shortly thereafter was diagnosed with... The Importance of Authenticity and StorytellingThroughout our time on this podcast, we've been real and raw.... A Light-Hearted Banter: The Importance of Listening to the Entire EpisodeHey, can we stop right there?... Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Personal StoriesI think to give a little bit of context for our listeners is that we are recording episode 21 today and I don't remember the specific statistic, but like only a certain percentage of podcasts actually make it to episode 21.... Unveiling the 'Why': The Motivation Behind the PodcastMy story is gonna give a lot of background for my why....A Glimpse into the Past: Life Before the DiagnosisSo, when I think about my why.... The Turning Point: Cancelling MammogramsBut, I was so stressed in 2017 trying to make both of these perfect worlds in work and home that I can't, I started canceling my mammograms.... The Impact of Perfectionism and Fear of Letting People DownYeah, Katie, a couple things as you're talking, and I'm hearing the word perfect or perfection, personally and professionally, here....The Power of Mindset in Decision MakingThe mindset you had.... The Struggle of Balancing Responsibility and Self-CareAnd I wonder, in the context of being a healthcare professional, If the mindset was also a sense of like duty and dependability....The Moment of Truth: Receiving the DiagnosisAnd shortly thereafter was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma.... The Emotional Toll of Sharing the News with FamilyAnd the theme that we've talked about that comes back around to each of us is do I end up being sacrificed in the process of sacrificing?... The Journey of Treatment: Surgery, Chemo, and RadiationYeah, so the, the interesting thing is that because we didn't know a whole lot about the tumor, you know, we didn't know going into it what this was gonna look like.... The Power of Team Support During TreatmentWhat was, what was something that you learned from that experience?... The Impact of the Experience on Future PerspectivesKatie, so now, you know, we're, we're two years ish you know, past.... Lessons Learned and the Importance of Progress Over PerfectionI think probably the last thing I would say is when we talk about Motivation.... Conclusion: Gratitude and Joy in the Midst of StrugglesWell, I think in the spirit of joy and gratitude, I am going to put that right back on you, Alan, and say thank you for being my friend and colleague through this journey....