Ch 13: Grace and Gratitude
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If cancer taught me anything, it’s that grace and gratitude are not just emotions—they’re choices. And they’re not always easy ones.
There were days when I didn’t feel grateful. Days when the pain was too sharp, the fatigue too deep, the uncertainty too overwhelming. There were moments when I felt angry at my body, frustrated by my limitations, and heartbroken by the life I had lost. But even in those moments, I learned that grace isn’t about denying the struggle—it’s about softening around it. It’s about allowing yourself to feel without judgment. To fall without shame. To rise without apology.
Grace showed up in unexpected ways. In the quiet patience of my wife, who never left my side during the most fragile days. In the steady presence of my sons, who became my strength when I had none. In the kindness of nurses who held my hand when I couldn’t speak. In the care packages from my team at Wawanesa—each gift was a reminder that I was not alone. That I was still part of something bigger than myself.
Gratitude came slowly. It wasn’t a flood—it was a trickle. It started with small things: a morning without nausea, a walk around the block, a laugh that didn’t feel forced. Over time, those moments accumulated. They became a foundation. A way to rebuild not just my health, but my perspective.
One of the most profound moments of gratitude came when I was finally able to return to work. I wasn’t the same leader. I was slower, more reflective, more open. But I was also more present. I saw my team not just as professionals, but as people. I led with more empathy, more humility, more heart. And in doing so, I discovered a deeper kind of leadership—one rooted not in control, but in connection.
Grace allowed me to forgive the parts of myself that felt broken. Gratitude helped me celebrate the parts that were still whole.
Together, they became the lens through which I now see the world. Not as something to conquer, but as something to cherish. Not as a series of tasks, but as a collection of moments. Not as a test of strength, but as an invitation to live with intention.
This chapter of my life—and my leadership—is defined not by what I lost, but by what I found.
Grace.
Gratitude.
And the quiet power of choosing both, every single day.
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True leadership is rooted in grace and gratitude.
It’s not just about achieving goals or exerting control—it’s about softening around challenges, forgiving yourself and others, and recognizing the value in every small act of kindness and progress. Leaders who practice grace create space for growth, empathy, and resilience; those who practice gratitude cultivate presence, perspective, and connection. Together, these choices transform not only how you lead, but how you inspire and sustain the people around you.
This lesson emphasizes that leadership isn’t only measured by outcomes, but by the humanity, patience, and presence you bring to your team every day.
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How can I intentionally practice grace and gratitude in my leadership, even on the hardest days, to create a culture of empathy, presence, and resilience for my team?
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Survival isn’t the end of the story—it’s the beginning of responsibility.
After cancer, I found myself drawn into unexpected conversations. People searching for hope, leaders facing their own crises, newly diagnosed patients asking the questions I once whispered in the dark: Does it ever get easier?
Tomorrow, I’ll share why mentorship and advocacy have become a new calling for me—and how telling the truth about our scars doesn’t make us weaker, it makes us more connected. I’ll also open up about what legacy looks like now, in this fragile but sacred in-between space—where healing is slow, vigilance is constant, and gratitude reshapes the way I live and lead.
Come back tomorrow—this is about more than survival. It’s about transformation.
