/w=3840,quality=90,fit=scale-down)
During my treatment, I experienced many interesting, funny, and thought-provoking moments. I often made mental notes to document them someday. This book is my way of remembering the journey. It is not about revisiting the details of the illness, but about capturing the moments that truly stood out and stayed with me.
At the same time, I do not want to dwell any longer on the sickness. I have already given it a year of my life, and now I want to move forward and focus on things that feel more constructive. To balance my need to document these memories while moving on, I have decided to limit the writing of this first draft to one week (I finished it within 3 days!).
What I realised as I reflected on these moments is that they are not just lessons for someone going through cancer. They are lessons for anyone who has ever felt stuck in a rut, whether because of illness, stress, or the sheer absurdity of life. My cancer journey was my particular rut.
At the heart of this book is a mindset I call SMILE.
In short, it is about how to find strength, take control of the chaos and still savour the moments despite the bleakness of the journey, which I will explain more about in Chapter 3.
Whatever road you’re on, whatever uphill stretch you’re facing, I hope these stories and moments will bring you comfort, a spark of hope and a smile on your face.