Vol. 20, Issue 7, September 29, 2022
As we head into October, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’m hearing from corporations, who are bringing this topic to the forefront in their online Employee Resource Group (ERG) meetings. I’m also hearing from some hospitals and healthcare systems that are re-booting their survivor events in person, as well as virtually, as we emerge from COVID isolation.
I can’t help but notice how much things have changed since I began booking women’s health events almost twenty-five years ago. It feels like the public is no longer sensitive to the word breast in common, i.e. public, usage. This is good.
Talking about it without shyness or holding back makes it easier to raise awareness. Raising awareness leads to action, and action leads to early detection, survivorship, and even prevention.
Today, I’m highlighting our breast cancer survivor speaker, Nicole J. Phillips, who literally bares all in her newest book, Borrow My Brave, A Breast Cancer Survivor Bares All. In it she shares her intimate thoughts as she recorded them in her blog as she slogged through the journey from diagnosis through reconstruction.
She writes candidly about her fears, as well as her proud moments. And she shares pictures of real women and their reconstruction choices as she invites women to, “borrow my brave.” Nicole originally conceived this project to be a resource for women at the beginning of their cancer diagnosis journeys, and she continues that mission today in her speaking engagements.
Nicole J. Phillips
Borrow my Brave
Nicole was diagnosed with breast cancer on her 40th birthday. The minute the doctor called her with the news, she determined that someday she would share her breast cancer story so that others could “Borrow her Brave,” in all the various ways she experienced it, downs as well as ups.
“Each one of us has a story,” Nicole says. 
“Why would I even bother to tell mine?
“Honestly, if it were just about me or even my husband, I wouldn’t, but it’s not about us. It’s about you, and your girlfriends, and your sisters, and maybe your mother or grandmother.
“I want to share my experience, the whole experience, with you so that if you are ever having to make decisions regarding breast cancer treatment, and particularly reconstruction, you will have a little more information than you had before.”
“Not everyone is called to share the intimate details of their cancer journey, but I am,” she continued. “I’ve known from the beginning that if I was going to have to walk this path, other women would gain in the process. And maybe even a few men who are wondering what is going on with their wives.”
Her book is helpful in many unexpected ways. She takes a very personal look at courage, for example. She writes candidly about the fleeting nature of bravery:
“Here’s the thing about bravery: sometimes you have it and sometimes you don’t. Bravery isn’t a constant. There are many days when I feel strong like a warrior ready to take on whatever comes next. But there are many more days when I feel tired, worn out, scared, angry, or terrified that I’m falling into a deep dark hole of depression.
“I fight it when I can by doing acts of kindness for others or resetting my brain by thinking about the silver lining, but sometimes all the positive self-talk in the world won’t help. I just need to be alone and listen to sad songs and have a good long cry and take a nap. I allow myself to feel the pain and embrace it because as soon as the cry and the nap are over, I know I’ll be strong enough to fight again.”
Nicole has been a proponent of acts of kindness since she had an awakening experience (you can read about that in my previous blog: click here.) in 2011.
Three years after that she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“My state of mind when diagnosed really helped me survive,” she said. “If I had been diagnosed before my kindness conversion, my husband said I may have given up.
“Kindness was the primary tool in my cancer journey. I like to think of it as a form of chemotherapy — with much better side effects. Practicing acts of kindness took the focus off myself and put it on to others, and that’s a game-changer, for sure.”
Nicole’s frankness about cancer, her family, her feelings, and her tools for dealing with all of it are truly refreshing and encouraging. An extra benefit is that she does not limit the application of her encouraging words to cancer. She intends her message to reach everyone going through something.
“Your thing may not be cancer. But you have a thing. I know you do. You’re afraid of it. If that happens today, may I gently suggest, from one survivor to another . . . focus on the celebration. See the good that surrounds you. Write it down if you must and carry it around in your pocket. Pull it out when the worry begins to creep in. Then sit in awe and wonder for a moment at the greatness of today and the One who made it happen.”
Bringing Nicole’s message of hope, strength, and resilience to your community or workplace will inspire everyone in your organization. To find out more about her, or to book her for your event, give me a call at 503-699-5031 or email barbara@speakwellbeing.com.
As we move into the cooler days of autumn, I hope you’re enjoying a little Indian Summer, whether it’s at home or out and about. Until next time, please take care of yourself for your well being and those you love.
Yours truly,
Barbara
For Your Well Being is published with the intention of bringing you insider speaker reports, exclusive stories about special events around the country, meeting planner tips, and fun stuff from the worlds of health and well being. Be well and be in the know!
The Speak Well Being Group is a specialized speakers bureau, focusing on health and wellness for all types of organizations that want to foster health and well being for their employees, members, clients, and in their communities. Our speakers are hand-selected. They are not only experts in their fields, they connect with their audiences while bringing them life-changing information, smiles of recognition and ultimately a sense of well being and hope. Finding the perfect keynote speaker for your special event or conference is my personal passion, not just once, but year after year. It brings me great joy to know that your audience was delighted and moved by the speaker we selected together. I’m committed to making the process easy, pleasant and fun.
