Take One Day At A Time & Pray

My name is Lori McFate and I am from Bettendorf, Iowa. I am a Public Affairs Specialist for the Department of Defense. I am a mom; my son Matthew is 26 years old, living out his dreams in Los Angeles, California. I am a runner and bicyclist that’s conquered many challenges like biking across Iowa, running a marathon, hiking mountains, beating blood cancer, and surviving a bone marrow transplant.

Take one day at a time and pray – never try to do it all right now, never try to do it alone

My biggest challenge is managing my health following the bone marrow transplant. Some days are an easy win; I eat the right foods in the right quantities, I get 10,000 steps in, get adequate sleep, and everything goes as planned at work. Other days, everything I touch goes terribly wrong, I make poor choices, and fear of cancer reoccurrence or transplant rejection creeps in.

When fear, anxiety, and worry creeps in, take a deep breath and ask yourself “what can I do right now to help myself?

The best advice I can offer to women who face daily mental and physical struggles is to take one day at a time and pray – never try to do it all right now, never try to do it alone. When fear, anxiety, and worry creeps in, take a deep breath and ask yourself “what can I do right now to help myself?” Maybe that looks like deep breathing and meditation, going for a walk, or calling a friend. I learned the hard way that perfection isn’t obtainable so it is best to accept what is obtainable in the “now” and do that.

When we find our voice, we learn to take initiative, make heathy choices, and be our own best advocate.

Woman to woman empowerment is important. The best way for women to empower each other is to be relatable. This starts with communicating. Being a great listener, sharing painful stories, and comforting each other in difficult times all lead to building trust and empowerment. When we feel empowered, we find our voice. When we find our voice, we learn to take initiative, make heathy choices, and be our own best advocate.

Thank you for sharing with us Lori. We appreciate you.

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