Identity and Surviving -

I listened to a TedX talk by Debra Jarvis, a chaplain, author, and breast cancer survivor. What she had to say about breast cancer, the terrible "S" word, and moving forward was not only an affirmation for me, but a message for anyone facing a life change, an identity crisis, stagnation, or a desire to move forward, without the bonds of the past defining them.

One thing she said has been on my mind quietly for these past several months, as I forge my new identity based on my past, but based on where I'm moving - forward. She said, "Claim your experience, don't let it claim you."