JPG Magazine: Stories: Photo Essay: True Beauty and Strength

True Beauty and Strength

By Julie Norris

12 May 2008

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last year about this time. It's been a year of ups and downs, fear and elation. She is doing great now.

This past weekend we participated in our first Race for the Cure. They have been holding the race in our city for the past ten years but I'd never really given it much thought. I'd always thought "I should do that" but had never actually done it. It's amazing how watching someone you love go through something, gives you a new respect for others who are too.

Our experience was amazing. There were about 14,000 people that participated. Some were survivors - true warriors in my eyes - and some were supporters. The weather was perfect and the air was full of excitement. One of the things that struck me the most were the signs most wore on their backs. There were "in memory of" and "in celebration of" signs that you could wear in honor of loved ones and friends. Some people had a full page of names of people they knew that have or have had cancer. It's kinda scary really when you think about it.

I think I learned and confirmed a couple things that I should have always known. True beauty is in the strength we show in trials and that the things that drive us crazy on a daily basis, traffic, that screaming baby in the store, the gum you stepped in, really don't mean all that much when put into the proper perspective. That the small joys and beauty in life, our families, flowers, the sun on our face, are what really matter.

For all those of you still fighting your battles, hang in there. For those of you supporting the fighters, stand strong. Hopefully one day there will not be a need for either.