As an adult, I’ve come to learn that the holidays can be a dual experience of two emotions – joy and sadness. We may find comfort and joy in our holiday traditions old and new, from enjoying the same meal on Christmas Eve to cutting down a fresh tree. But there can also be sadness, sometimes profound for a myriad of reasons—the loss of a loved one, health struggles, loneliness, holiday pressures or financial stressors.

On a beautiful September day, I volunteered to be a spotter in the woods at my daughter’s cross country race. I wanted to be away from the crowds and cheers and take a walk in the woods. A different perspective.

“I chose to fight, and fight with gratitude. I was going to look at all of the things a cancer diagnosis brought to my life instead of all the things it was taking away. You can’t overcome anything in life with a negative outlook.”

“Cancer certainly has a way of just turning everything upside down and challenging you to look at everything in your life,” Neary said. “None of us know how much time we have here, and every single day is a gift.”