Why May is a Season of Rebirth and Mental Wellness After Cancer

May has always been an incredibly special month for many of us. While we celebrate graduations, special religious holidays and Memorial Day, it is also the month of Mother’s Day and my mother’s birthday.

As a kid, May is a month I always remember as one of great anticipation. School was ending and summer vacation was right around the corner. It’s that month that you really appreciate all of the world around you. It is when nature blossoms and we reflect on an enriching season.

May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. I will forever be indebted to my mother telling me since I can remember how much she loved me and was always praying for my health. She told me continually if you have good health you have everything. I think sometimes of my diagnosis and other survivors’ mental health. It’s important to take small breaks in the day to pray, reflect, think of what you have and how you will use your life to benefit others.

I have always been energetic and at times it is hard for me to focus. I am taking this month of May and Mental Health Awareness serious by reflecting on my excitability and gratitude in my everyday life.

May is a month where I tend to be highly creative. As a survivor and writer I find myself especially feeling motivated with spring colors and scents abound. That sparks new ideas about what to look forward to when I write new projects. Springtime is thought to be the best time for renewal as we witness the ending of the winter, gray and cold season as we know it.

To many people May represents rebirth and development of our personal transformation of the year. My mother said on occasion to me throughout my adolescence how life was precious and I would someday understand the importance of May.

Today, I think of May standing alone as a modest month saying, “I am not jazzy like July or merry as December, but I am cool like no other month.” As survivors, perhaps we think of May as the beginning to holding onto life. Our planet can simultaneously be majestic yet broken in various ways. 

That is not unlike us humans. For instance, cancer has not beat us. Cancer didn’t beat me. Cancer stands alone then angels sing. Our lives are majestic yet broken in various ways. And that is OK. I have to remind myself to be calm in many situations. The calm inside me can be the most beautiful and loving thing. Why sometimes do I not react to my life in a positive way? It stands to reason that the same thing may be happening right now to many people. We might all go about our way scrutinizing more of the negatives and give little thought to other, more positive aspects of our lives. However common this might be to us, we can always try to improve ourselves in this aspect.

For me, controlling my breathing and purposefully calming my mind is my tactic. It gives me a few moments to be thankful for the opportunity to be placed in that moment and decide how I can respond. I can choose to pile on to the negatives or to bring positivity to it and remind myself of the goodness I have witnessed. I’m sure many of you can relate to the feeling of dread that comes Sunday evening at 10 p.m., knowing what comes next in 10 hours. Perhaps you recall that mistake you made at work last week or the many priorities in the next few days you will face.

What will be your tactic to chase the negative thoughts away and bring out a positive outcome? If you’d like to send me your tactics, please do and I’ll anonymously share on my website next month.

As a final reminder about Mother’s Day and in June, Father’s Day, the best investment you’ll ever make is being the best son or daughter you can. I believe, no matter how old you are, being a great son or daughter says a lot about your character. No one can take that away. Now years removed from my cancer diagnosis I feel each day is my chance to live well and give back to my parents. My parents have always been by my side and supportive of everything I did. Not everyone is lucky enough to have that type of upbringing. But I was. To this day, I try to impress them. But I know it’s a tough act to follow. I’ll keep trying.

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This piece reflects the author’s personal experience and perspective. For medical advice, please consult your health care provider.

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