HAPPY Breast Cancer Awareness Month

At Capilano Suspension Bridge Park


The Capilano Suspension Bridge

Downtown Vancouver, BC

Stanley Park

Stanley Park

Stanley Park

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Seeing pink gear on the football players makes me want to watch more football! hahaha...

I can't believe almost a year passed since my first blog. A lot has happened since then. I got engaged, married, and took a lot of trips!! 2010 definitely has been a year of many changes. Having too much fun makes me realize how susceptible I am to become indifferent to Breast Cancer Awareness. I moved on so quickly as if I have awaken from a horrible dream. To be honest, I wasn't proactive about supporting other survivors or patients because listening and sharing was like scratching my own scab and preventing it from healing. The aftershock of my pains kept haunting me when I met new survivors and patients. I still hate going to my follow up doctor's appointments. I feel nauseated everytime I enter the waiting room. There's a bit of joy and a sense of feat knowing that I've conquered this evil thing called CANCER but for the most part I am extremely saddened to see the dark faces still in a long battle. Perhaps, I am shoving my vulnerability in a corner somewhere for now and taking steps to live life again, hoping to retrieve the lost times. I may sound selfish but I need this time to recover. I don't believe in forcing things anymore. I believe in the natural process. Hopefully, I continue to enjoy what my 2nd life has to offer and naturally share the brighter side after a long disgusting battle of cancer. It's that much sweeter. I'm genuinely HAPPY and I hope to spread my HAPPY VIRUS.

I have so many more pictures to share starting from my engagement on Christmas Day of 2009 but let me share my recent trip first. My husband and I went to Vancouver over the Columbus Day weekend, which is also Canada's Thanksgiving weekend. Vancouver was the most beautiful city I've ever been to where you can enjoy the chic urban architecture in Downtown, family friendly parks and beach at Stanley Park, and inspiring nature at the Suspension Bridge/Park, ALL WITHIN A FEW MILES! The streets were CLEAN with separate trash bins for recycling. You can see the public effort of eco-friendliness. It was an amazing trip!

My first blog-ABOUT ME

I'm a 32 year old, Korean American female, breast cancer SURVIVOR. I was diagnosed of Stage I Breast Cancer on April 4, 2008 and finished Chemotherapy (TAC) and radiation treatments on December 4, 2008. The year 2008 was a turning point in my life. Life as I believed it to be was full of surprises and uncertainties. It was like spilled milk over my lifemap that I had carefully drafted. Now, I take the "one day approach" in life. Everyday's a new day. You never know what tomorrow brings so live your EVERYDAY life to its fullest. Today's problem will be solved tomorrow. There's nothing in life that cannot be solved. It's how you deal with it. It's how you perceive life. You can find joy in the smallest things in life. Never dwell on negativity. Once you fall into darkness, the dive can be eternal until your soul is dead. Stay on top of your positive energy. Spend time with people that make you laugh and bring you joy. You make the choices. All this sounds CLICHE but so true. This is how I perceive LIFE THROUGH MY LENS. Cancer took NOTHING from me as I gained my health back, hair is growing wild, and I'm happier than EVER! Of course, the uncertainties of my health daunts me at times but that's life, isn't it? The mystery of life..... Everyday is a new day.

The day I ended my treatments was the LA Live Grand Opening in Downtown, Los Angeles known as "The Lighting of the Angels". For me, it was a symbol of Angel protecting me as my new life began.