Five years ago, on this day, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I thought I would die, my life was over, I would never be the same. It was very aggressive, doctors wanted to meet with me within days to develop a plan. I was worried, afraid, I was not looking forward to the challenges. But with challenges, you grow, you learn, you are better having been challenged.

If you are a golfing connoisseur, your may have heard of the golf course architect Pete Joy. He loved designing golf courses that made golfers think their way around the course. It put golfers in uncomfortable positions and tested their tenacity and mental capacity as well as their physical prowess. He made them struggle and challenged them to grow. When they finally conquered the course, golfers felt accomplished, stronger, a better golfer.

Have you ever been through a storm and thought it would never end? A feeling of fear and uncertainty encompassed your every thought…then daylight…sun…the rainbow…calmness.

We face storms in our lives all the time in our relationships, at work, in our abilities, etc. Storms come when we least expect them and they take over our being. But after the storm, there is a brightness that allows the rain to nurture growth. In these five years, I have grown and continue be challenged, however, just as the golfers, I will stay the course, conquer each and every hole I face, and come out on top.