Cancer predictability. You have cancer. And suddenly if you are like me you have scenarios playing out in your head. I call them cancer expectations/predictions as the great misnomer. Everything I could have imagined did not happen. And the things I never thought could happen actually in fact came to be. I was told I would have brain surgery but never dreamed I'd slip into a 14 week coma. I thought I would have 35 radiation treatments not realizing that during the third week I would have the worst exhaustion of my life when I discovered I had covid at the same time. I thought I would recover from treatment at my home in Vermont but have found my hand clenching tissues in Ann Arbor Michigan for a clinical trial. I thought I would enjoy last summer but spent it with a broken foot and emergency surgery because of a car accident. I knew I would have nausea but never thought I would have my ferritin level fall to a dangerous level requiring transfusions with unrelenting anemia. I expected medical bills but not poverty. My friends, please do not expect anything. Don't predict anything. None of us has a crystal ball of tomorrow and there is no GPS indicating a direct route for a cancer itinerary. For those who know me well there has been a blessing that has come out of each of these experiences. The car accident for example led Russell to come into my account for the first time to inform my followers that he is my emergency contact and he was called because of a serious car accident. His introduction of himself with numerous updates about my condition allowed people to discover our friendship and as a result Russell has given many people joy and it is a thrill for you all to know my best friend. Writing about cancer the first time I came onto Twitter has now given me friendships in Ireland, Australia, England, Canada and all over the United States. I have written five books. Because of my approach of living with cancer rather than fighting cancer I have lectured in 42 of the 50 states. You have cancer. Brain cancer. October 20, 2020. And today is February 13th, 2025. These events that have unfolded on the unpredictable calendar were not expected.. They were not even in my wildest imagination of fantasy. So I would encourage each of you with stunned diagnosis to simply stand up and take a step into life. Keep walking into life. Just let life happen and be open to the unexpected because really how can you not be? Don't predict it. It's a waste of energy. Just keep walking and don't stop. Cry but then laugh. Scream and then whisper praise. Take your meds and then relax. Be loved and most importantly love. Keep walking. Keep walking. Keep walking. I don't know where you're going and I don't know where I'm going. But I know where I've been. And that little piece of knowledge is what helps me to stand today and walk into life. And I don't plan to stop walking anytime soon. #cancer

A willingness to tolerate discomfort is the most meaningful separator.

POWELL: EVEN AFTER MORTGAGE RATES COME DOWN WILL BE FACED WITH HIGH INSURANCE COSTS, HIGH MATERIAL COSTS