Lisa Ray Instagram – Eight years ago I embarked on a health odyssey I decided to chronicle in a blog called #TheYellowDiaries. A lot has changed, both in myself and the world. I think it’s time to revisit #TheYellowDiaries and share snippets here both to remind myself, and connect with you from the deepest part of myself. September 12, 2009 It never occurred to me that talking openly about cancer is anything other than perfectly natural. And hopefully kind of, like, hilarious. I mean Membership into the cancer club has come with a long set of Seinfeld-esque episodes that are too juicy not to laugh about. Including the meltdowns, reactions to the meds or the bleed in your spirit after a day when you need support but don’t know how to ask. Like any long term commitment, there’s gonna be some baffling days when the only out is humour or a cleansing cry. But I never thought of giving up. And it’s never occurred to me that I won’t show up rebooted on the other side. And then I understood. It’s a taboo to speak openly about long term, potentially fatal diseases. Jeez. Why didn’t anyone tell me? So I started thinking bout a revolution: A world without the pathology of perfection. Without an unrealistic and painful belief system that we are entitled to get through life without suffering. And then a chance to live fearlessly and realize how important it is to say what needs to be said, and do what needs to be done. Without denial. ‘I can be changed by what happens to me- but I refuse to be reduced by it’ said Maya Angelou.