The Road Well Traveled
Self-Awareness is an underestimated skill. I know what I’m not, but the journey to figure out what I am has been a rather complex one. As a matter of fact, I’m still not quite sure. But at age 47, I think I’m getting closer.
First, I was a precocious, inquisitive child, who wanted to be the first woman President of the United States. Then I got kind of lost in my 20’s, wanted to host my own talk show, and stayed on track enough to attain two Master’s degrees. Then I discovered I was pretty good at sales. And then I got punched in the face. And then I found out I was pretty good at training. And then I got punched in the face again. And punched yet a third time… And now I’m the star of my own, “where are they now?”
Who is “Stacy”? I love people, I have a few letters after my name, and I can get up after getting knocked down. I don’t think any of this is going to make me rich. I wanted to get rich in my “lost 20’s.” Now I just want to survive, learn how to cook, raise my family, and make a difference.
So what really happened and where am I going with this? In a nutshell, I worked in sales, training, and healthcare. Then my younger son was diagnosed with profound disabilities and special needs to the point that he will never walk or talk and requires total one-on-one care for the rest of his life. Then I was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer that will entail maintenance treatment for the rest of my life. Then my mom was diagnosed with unexplainable total hearing loss that required a cochlear implant and adaptations to her lifestyle to give her some ability to communicate.
But I Get Up Again!
The end, right? On the contrary, that’s just the beginning! Just to review: gift of gab, lots of smarts, lots of experience, lots of adversity. Do I get bitter and curse out the universe? Do I curl up into the fetal position, grow my hair long, and become a recluse? Well, no. I’m a person who LOVES people – I used to enjoy just talking to them, but now I more enjoy listening to them and helping them. And I’m feisty, which really means that I’m not happy unless I’m pushing the envelope in some fashion. I’m a disruptor. Since the world of cancer and disabilities needs more inclusion and acceptance, I’ve chosen that particular area to focus my still yet undeterred energy.
Introducing https://stacyhurt.wpengine.com – a way for me to take all of this and help the world, either through advocacy, speaking, or consulting. AND, better yet, a way for my supporters to help the world through showcasing efforts of humanitarianism with the hashtag #DoingAwareness (read more about that here).
A couple of other important things you should know about me are that I’m super positive, super determined, and I love to make people laugh. You’d better believe that those qualities have helped me beat down Stage IV colorectal cancer (when I had tumors in 27 places…), helped me raise Emmett to do more than the doctors ever thought he would, and help my mom not be confined by deafness. Three awful things happened to me without any warning or reason. (Isn’t there some rule of three somewhere?) We’re putting all of that behind us, moving forward, and encouraging others to do the same!
So you see, it’s so much more than a website to me. It’s a lifetime of twists and turns that have defined my mission. Tons of people have stood beside me and cheered for me along my road of fighting cancer. They all said, “you are inspiring more people than you’ll ever know.” This just takes that to a whole new level! So I have YOU to thank for this. YOU are the driving force behind my endeavors! Come celebrate life with me on https://stacyhurt.wpengine.com, and share it with someone who needs a boost. And THANK YOU for helping me to figure out what I want to be while I’m still growing up!
