For those of you who follow me on Facebook or have read a few of my earlier blogs know that I have had my struggles at the end of 2016. For those of you who don’t know I was diagnosed with cancer back in August.
This was a huge shock to me and my family. Fortunately I was told that my cancer would respond very well to treatments. However, the treatments were not going to be any fun and they are some of the hardest treatments on an individual.
They didn’t sugar coat it and they were right. I went through weeks of radiation and several Chemotherapy treatments. This all left me with the inability to swallow properly, eat solid foods, taste food, and no energy.
I have fought day after day to push through my treatments and keep moving on with life. To say it was hard is a true understatement. It was hell but I can officially say that I am Cancer Free!
Why do I bring this up on an outdoor site? Well it is relevant as the one thing that kept me going was thinking of spending time on the lake chasing big salmon or in a tree waiting for the elusive whitetail. It is amazing what the draw of the outdoors can bring a person through.
Day after day I would think about taking my son out to the local ponds to keep his love of fishing fresh in his mind. There were days that I could barely get out of my chair, but I had the Bass Pro shops or Cabela’s catalog to keep my mind off of the constant pain or nausea that I was dealing with.
As outdoorsmen and women I think that we take the ability to get out fishing and hunting for granted. It isn’t until we lose the ability to get into the outdoors that we realize how much it really can heal what is wrong with us.
The smell of the fresh air, the sound of the waves lapping on the boat, or the feel of the wind in your face as you sit in your tree stand are all types of medicine that can help the soul. Think about this when you hit the water or walk out into the woods. Don’t take it for granted that you are able to do what you enjoy.
When life hits you hard just remember that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t take life for granted and do what you can to enjoy your passions. Spend time in the outdoors and even better spend that time with someone you love.
I want this to be a reminder that life is short. Take the time to live life to the fullest and make today better than yesterday. Catch a fish of a lifetime or just sit on the bank watching your float bob in the waves. Keep your chin up and push on.
Live life “one day at a time”!
Cory Yarmuth
Legend Outdoors
