People ask me how I survive the trauma of my 6 cancers.

Surviving multiple cancer diagnoses can be a traumatic experience, but I attribute my resilience to my mindset. 

To easily remember my strategy, I created a mantra: HOG SLOP (a playful reference to what we used to feed hogs.) 

I share it here in the hopes that it will also work for you.

The acronym represents the following principles:

Hope: Having hope allows us to look towards a positive future and maintain a sense of purpose and direction. It provides motivation and inspiration to work towards our goals and aspirations.

Optimism: Optimism helps us maintain a positive outlook on life, even when facing challenges and difficulties. Optimism improves our overall well-being and increases our resilience and ability to bounce back from setbacks.

Gratitude: Practicing gratitude allows us to focus on the good in our lives and appreciate the people and things that bring us joy and fulfillment. Gratitude can improve our relationships, increase happiness and well-being, and help us develop a more positive outlook on life.

Serenity Prayer: The Serenity Prayer encourages us to accept the things we cannot change, have the courage to change the things we can, and find the wisdom to know the difference. By practicing this prayer, we can develop a sense of inner peace and calm in the face of life's difficulties.

Live in the Moment: Focusing on the present moment can help us to be more mindful and intentional in our daily lives. In addition, this present-moment focus can increase happiness and well-being and reduce stress and anxiety.

One Day at a Time: Taking life one day at a time can help us avoid feeling overwhelmed by the future or haunted by the past - increasing our sense of control.

Patience: This too shall pass: Cultivating patience helps us to better manage difficult situations and maintain a positive outlook, even when things are challenging. Patience can also improve our relationships!

Surviving traumatic experiences, whether it be multiple cancer diagnoses or other life challenges, can be incredibly difficult, but having a positive mindset can help to make all the difference.

By focusing on hope, optimism, gratitude, and fundamental principles such as the Serenity Prayer, living in the moment, taking life one day at a time, and cultivating patience, one can not only survive - but also thrive.