We Are Badass Women

By Courtney

I am always impressed by the strength of women. Truly. It’s not just our physical strength—it’s our ability to persevere through really tough times, to nurture those around us despite our own needs, to protect our children and those we love . . . we take the punches life throws at us and punch right back. And we do this time and time again.

After my divorce and cross-country move, I found a lump in my left breast. As far back as I can go in my family history, there is not one person who had any type of cancer. Until me in 2020.

The short story is, I had had an “all clear” mammogram 9 months prior to finding the lump through self-exam. But I was lucky. I caught it early—stage 1—my lumpectomy was successful, and my lymph nodes were clear. I didn’t need chemo, just a couple of months of radiation. I’m now on a regime of mammograms every 6 months and MRIs, and so far, so good.

So what does this have to do with strong women?

Last Saturday, I participated in the Susan G. Komen breast cancer awareness walk in Atlanta with my team of workmates. The event was equal parts empowering and emotional. But 100% inspirational.

Listening to the women who shared their stories in the pre-walk ceremony brought me to tears, not only because I understood their fight, their fear, their triumphs—but because their strength and resolve to not let cancer claim the physically or mentally was incredibly moving. I didn’t know these women, yet I knew them very well because we’re in this together. And these women inspired me. Their positivity and determination refreshed my outlook, and I am so grateful to them for opening their lives to hundreds of us that day.

There is something magical that happens when strangers come together for a cause. We become no longer strangers, but sisters and brothers who, by virtue of understanding, are holding each other up. We are all gentle warriors, no matter what our battle may be.

I got and gave hugs that day to people I didn’t know—other survivors and supporters who didn’t have to say a word because that hug said it all.

And what it said was, we are strong women. We are tough. We won’t be defined by this experience.

And that goes for every woman. No matter what challenge you may be facing in your life, just remember that you are more resilient than you think, and certainly stronger than you could ever have imagined. You are a badass woman.