Do you feel pulled in a thousand directions, doing everything for everyone, and trying to find some form of balance in your life? Maybe, there are days when everything seems like life is going really well. Other days, you wish things could be a little smoother. You might even get easily annoyed with your kids, fall into bed at night exhausted, or feel dread when your alarm goes off in the morning.

Instead of being relaxed and carefree, you feel stressed and irritable. Especially, since the Coronavirus came into our lives.

You know there’s got to be more than checking things off of your “to do” list and surviving the day.

Does this sound too good to be true?

Here’s the good news, it is absolutely possible.

I know you have a lot on your plate. Between your family, job, kids, community work, friends, and everyday household chores, there’s a lot to take care of.

Obligations. Responsibilities. Duties. I get it. I’ve been there. But, don’t give up yet. If you’re still reading this post, and I hope you are, this means you are interested in learning how to bring more of what you want into your life.

You don’t want to wake up ten years from now and wonder where the time went. Regret is a tricky thing, and no one wants to have regrets.

If you’re wondering how I got so smart, trust me, it wasn’t something I was born with. I had to learn it. The hard way.

Almost eight years ago, my life was going perfectly well and then one day it wasn’t. You see, there was this lump on my right breast and I happened to mention it when I went to the doctor to get an antibiotic. I thought she would dismiss it and tell me not to worry about it. Instead, several days later I found myself getting a biopsy.

And you can guess the rest.

It sounds cliche, but it really does happen that way. One day you think you’re totally fine, and the next, you’re sitting on a couch, hearing you have breast cancer. Luckily, I found it early, aggressively treated it with the many tools available, and am blessed to be on this side of things.

But, going through that experience changed me.

What I thought was important, suddenly didn’t seem very important anymore. I found myself questioning what I was doing with my life and my time.

It’s the something good that came out of something bad.

I wouldn’t wish a cancer diagnosis on anyone, but I learned a lot of lessons going through my experience and I’m a better person because of it. I’m happier, more content, and calmer. I know what’s important in my life, how I want to spend my time, and who I want to be with. I found gratitude, joy, and a deep appreciation for the blessings in my life.

Since this month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought, “What better way to mark this month than to share with my readers a special Thriving Series?” Each month, between now and next October, we’ll tackle all of this together. The goal is to help you thrive and enjoy your life as much as possible.

Together, we’ll discover the simple pleasures in life and find joy in everyday moments. I’ll help you find peace and contentment. I’ll show you how to slow down a bit, take the time to connect with the people you love, and block out time for yourself without feeling guilty about it. Guilt is a wasted emotion and isn’t welcomed here.

I’m excited to walk this path with you and look forward to our journey together.

I promise to give you tips and information you can take with you that will help you navigate your own life. You owe it to yourself to experience the joy that’s all around you, every day, even if you think you don’t have time.

Especially if you think you don’t have time.

It’s time to thrive,

Dara