For the past 10 years or so, I have surveyed cancer patients and survivors globally via my Instagram page Live Life Now Project, and also published a beautifully-designed coffee table book of quotes (Search “Live Life Now Project” on Amazon in your region) taken from many of these surveys — inspiring quotes about what’s important in life from people who have faced real adversity.
Despite all of this work, someone recently asked me: “Why do you survey cancer patients? Isn’t it depressing?”
I then spent the next 5–10 minutes explaining to this person how much a cancer diagnosis and journey can enable a patient to look back on their life and understand what they could have done differently, what was beneficial, where they wasted their time and, overall, what really mattered.
I started Live Life Now Project a number of years ago asking survey questions about life to cancer patients and survivors around the world as I felt they had important information to share which could benefit both cancer patients and well individuals. In effect, this page created a community that provided advice which came from lived-in experience. I’d read self-help books that were written by “experts” or psychologists, but nothing came close to the advice of the thousands of contributors and followers of this page.
Live Life Now Project is not just another social media account full of meaningless quotes and pieces of advice. Rather, it is a community of individuals who share a common goal — to live life to the fullest, no matter what challenges they may face.
This project is particularly helpful for those who have been touched by cancer, including patients, survivors, and those who are currently cancer-free. Through the stories of cancer patients and survivors, Live Life Now Project offers invaluable advice about how to live life to the fullest, even when the odds are stacked against you.
One of the most remarkable things about this project is the lessons that have come from personal experiences and based on the profound insights about life gained during their cancer journey.
For example, some of the lessons learned include the importance of living in the moment, cherishing every day, and not taking anything for granted. Others have shared insights on how to stay positive in the face of adversity, how to be grateful for what you have, how to find joy in the small things in life, and how trivial the majority of our minor daily complaints really are.
The advice given by cancer patients and survivors through Live Life Now Project is incredibly valuable to anyone who wants to live their best life. By taking the advice given by those who have been through the most challenging of experiences, we can all gain a fresh perspective on our lives and learn to appreciate the things that truly matter.
For those who are currently dealing with cancer, Live Life Now Project can be an incredibly supportive and empowering resource. The community of individuals who are going through similar experiences can provide an invaluable source of comfort and strength during difficult times.
For those who are cancer-free, this page is a reminder that life is precious, and we should never take our lives for granted.
So, next time anyone asks me: “Why do you survey cancer patients? Isn’t it depressing?”, this article is my best response.
