Your Body is a Wonderland, Full Stop.

Be realistic about your body, bud.

Cancer changes the way you look and feel. It’s frustrating, but what can you do? Hiding and/or hating your new bod is always an option, but healing it feels a whole lot better. 

Here’s a simple challenge to help you get started:

Take a deep breath. Then, give your body a great big slow clap and mean it, no matter what your body looks like.

The steps are pretty basic... but did you find them easy? Probably not.

Cancer leaves plenty of sh*t to cope with in its wake. The physical changes are sometimes the most difficult to ignore. Sure, you can stock up on baggy clothes and false bravado, but they’ll still be there at the end of the day.

The scars…

The wounds… 

The weight loss or gain… 

The ports… 

Lost limbs… 

Missing breasts...

Skin changes…

Digestive issues...

If any or all of these changes to your body trigger you to feel resentful or angry, it’s natural. Grieve the body you’ve lost, if you feel a need to. Shed some big fat tears, if you want! We’ll never tell you that it’s wrong to feel your feelings here.

But.. after you’re done? We hope you’ll give your new body grace. 

It’s tried its best to protect you. It’s fought against the odds to keep you alive. It’s won. You’ve survived, however messy and uncomfortable the process may be. You don’t love the way your body looks right now, but maybe one day you’ll find the peace within yourself to honor it, anyway.

“I’ve drawn the line in the sand, today is the day I start thanking my body for saving me, keeping me alive even after the MANY years of abuse. Thanks body. I love you and I’m sorry for being so mean.” -Kate Burns Chad, The Breasties SoCal Ambassador and Co-founder of Two Cultivate Love

Reframing your mindset is a powerful tool toward radical self-love. 

Loving yourself despite any perceived imperfections and flaws is a radical act. It won’t come naturally, but it’s so necessary as part of the healing process. With some simple habits, you can train your brain to be more accepting of your body as it is in this moment.

Ask yourself the hard questions. 

As you wipe the steam from your bathroom mirror after your shower today, be kind. Before you stand there pinching the extra skin around your waist or tracing the scar across your abdomen with a disgusted frown, ask yourself, “Would I criticize someone else this way? Would I dare to say the things I’m thinking out loud about someone else’s body?” If the answer is, “NO!”, it’s time to reframe. 

“You will never speak to anyone more than you speak to yourself in your head. Be kind to yourself.” ~Unknown