On purpose

It’s time to rip the band-aid off: this week my mother began chemo treatments for ovarian cancer. This is the unforeseen event I referenced previously. This is what has left my family in a fog for the last six weeks.

I’ve written a lot here about how our brains are predicting machines. It does this to help save energy (derived from calories, from our food); it is evolutionary and instinctual.

So when something like this - an unexpected diagnosis, a death, or loss of job or relationship - happens, our brains often struggle to reorient. Depending upon your flavor of neurochemistry, how you manage the fall out will look different.

For me - I am someone who thrives with hard work and struggle. So much so that I often create this hard work for myself - through procrastination, insane workloads, and big goals.

With that understanding of myself, I’ve been pondering what I can plan to do over the next 6-9 months that will also allow me to be present with my family.

As it turns out, there is something that I think is perfect. Exactly nine months from today - on March 6, 2026 - there is a backyard ultra in the very park that I taught myself to run in, the park that is walking distance from my parents’ home. The exact loop that I have trod more times than I can count - including many with my mother - will be used for the race. It’s a last man standing race - at the top of the hour, every hour, runners line up to run the 4ish mile loop.

My mother is participating in a research study to develop a blood screening test for ovarian cancer. Rather than raising money for the Special Olympics next year, I will look to raise funds for that study in an old school “Walk-A-Thon” style - I will be asking for pledges for each loop I complete. I will train to do at least 7 (30 miles), but my stretch goal will be 12 (51.6).

When we are faced with challenging situations, we often feel helpless. Finding something concrete that we can do is often the best way to deal with the uncertainty of what is to come.

As we open June, is there anything that has been causing you stress? Is there something tangible that you can plan to do to help combat what you are experiencing?

Be well, beautiful people.