

As Told To is a recurring segment on xoNecole where real women are given a platform to tell their stories in first-person narrative as told to a writer.
This is Lindsey Walker's story, as told to Charmin Michelle.
Here I was, walking into the treatment center for the very first time. I was walking as slowly as I could.
The center was unlike anything I could've ever expected, and nothing like what we've seen in the movies. There were so many people there: young, old, some full of joy and hope, others in so much pain you could see it in their eyes. I wondered how everyone had gotten to this point and if it were anything similar to how I had gotten there.
Everything was a blur; I was terrified of what my life was. Or wasn't.
I remember how welcoming the nursing staff and my oncology team were. They were warm and kind, truly concerned about my well-being. They tried their best to prepare me for what was coming my way, but there was nothing they could've said to ease me into the experience to be honest. It all happened so fast...
The Arrival of Cancer
One random day I was on the phone with my friend when suddenly, my breathing was out of sync. I told her something was wrong and that I was having difficulty breathing at all. I hadn't been feeling my best up to this moment and I had been running fevers for an entire week, so she urged me to go the hospital. I immediately called my mom and asked her to take me to the emergency room.
While we were there, they did X-rays on my chest and found a mass sitting directly in front of my heart, which was why I was having trouble breathing. The doctors decided to admit me.
Huh? Admit me?
A mass?
What does that mean?
The next day, the doctors came in to my room and asked me a series of questions. They then decided to do a biopsy to determine a clearer understanding as to what the mass was. Before I knew it, I was being whisked away and prepped for surgery, scared out of my mind. I woke up with a chest tube in my side and I had to do breathing exercises. After about a week, they let me go home as we awaited the results of the biopsy. A few days later, I started running fevers again and had to go back to the hospital and one of the doctors demanded to see my tests. By this time, they had me on the "Unknown Floor"—meaning they didn't know what my diagnosis was.
I was laying in the hospital bed when one of the doctors came in to tell me that I'd been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The exact date was July 3, 2018. I later found out that it was in Stage IV.
Growing up, I could have never imagined this would be something I would have to battle through, although this wasn't the first experience with complications. Raised by my mother, grandmother and great aunts as an only child, I was born severely premature (my mother had me at 23 weeks), so my family was quite overprotective of me as a child.
So, when I was formally diagnosed, it took me a while to process any emotions, thoughts, and optimism—even with all that I had dealt with in the past.
Chemotherapy is...Hell.
My world transformed into a dream that I just couldn't seem to wake up from. I immediately thought about the fact that I was 27 years old, single, with no children. I wondered what was going to happen to me.
Would I ever be married? Would I have the opportunity to have children?
I thought about everything that I always wanted to do, but hadn't done yet. I thought about my family, my friends. I wondered why God allowed this to happen to me.
Where did I go wrong? Why me?
I wasn't angry at God. I was just hurt and confused. How could I allow my life to get to this point? I felt betrayed. I betrayed myself. I didn't take care of my health as much as I should have, and I allowed myself to be put on the back burner for the sake of my friends and family. I should have been more selfish. But even in the midst of this life-altering situation, I knew that if I was going to make it through, I needed Him by my side—now more than ever.
As I heard the doctor mention chemotherapy as a treatment option, that was the first time my diagnosis hit me, and the first time I cried because of it.
Mainly because I was so against chemotherapy from the start. The day I was diagnosed, my mother and I had a full-blown argument because I didn't want to do chemo, I wanted to heal naturally. She told me that it wasn't an option or up for discussion. She told me that I had to do it. I knew this was real and it wasn't going away on its own or just because I wanted it to.
So, I won't say that I chose chemotherapy—it was chosen for me.
But I am so grateful that my family loved me enough to fight for me when I didn't have the understanding and capacity to make the right decision for myself.
Anyway. Listen guys: to be completely honest, chemotherapy is pure hell. I was stuck with needles multiple times, I sat in pods for hours, uncomfortable and in so much pain. One of the meds that I had to take burned internally as soon as it entered the bloodstream. I experienced various side effects, including mouth sores and a blood clot that hit me so hard I could barely walk.
I learned to prepare my mind for each visit after a while. I would make sure I drank plenty of water so that I could avoid getting stuck more. I would listen to sermons for moral support—it was still tough. But not tougher than me. After twelve chemo rounds, my cancer disappeared.
Ladies, I was cancer-free!
Lindsey Walker
Image via Ashlee Nicole/Artistry Studios
Life as a Survivor
One day, while undergoing treatment, I decided to look up the definition of "cancer". The Greek version literally means "burden." At the time, I'm not sure that I knew that, but I knew that at the same time. I had been carrying the weight of perfection and trying to please other people so much to the point that my burden manifested itself. Even prior to my diagnosis, I was hurting from the pains of my past. And it took my diagnosis to wake me up to that so that I could finally release the things that tried to paralyze me spiritually, mentally and emotionally.
You see, before I had cancer, I didn't think to define it. To me, cancer was just a really bad thing that sometimes good people have to go through. But my diagnosis forced me to look at life in a deeper way; such as the way I treated myself, or how I allowed myself to be treated.
So, this particular “burden” taught me lessons that paralleled everything I ever thought I knew.
On another note, there's so much to be said about our healthcare system today, especially given the current climate. I think more patients need to learn to advocate for themselves concerning their treatment plans, how they are cared for in hospitals, etc. Hospitals must realize that patients are more than just a number, they are people with families and feelings.
Don't be afraid to speak up for yourself, if you feel that something is wrong, despite the doctors orders, say something. And say something yesterday. It can make all the difference in the world. It could save your life.
As for me, I learned to listen to myself and my body. I learned to put myself first and care less about what others had to say about me, my life and my decisions. I learned to love myself for who I am and be gracious to myself. I'd spent most of my life trying to fit into this box that I was never meant to fit in the first place. I learned to give myself permission to be whoever I needed to be for me.
And I learned that I, Lindsey Walker, can defeat all of my burdens. Even if it's cancer.
For more of Lindsey, follow her on Instagram.
Featured image courtesy of Lindsey Walker
Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
The Final Mercury Retrograde Of 2024 Is Here—How This Bold Energy Will Shift Your Perspective
The final Mercury retrograde of the year arrives this month, and this is an opportunity to close one chapter and prepare for a new one. Mercury retrogrades are the time of the year when you take a step back, assess where your life currently is, and be a little more flexible with how things are playing out for you. When Mercury is in retrograde, miscommunications and misdirections are more likely; however, this isn’t the time to fear where you are headed; it’s more about looking at things from a different perspective right now.
Mercury enters Sagittarius on November 2, will be retrograde from Nov. 25 until Dec. 15, and will be in this sign until Jan. 8, 2025. Mercury in Sagittarius is bold and outspoken but, in retrograde, can come across as impulsive and brash. Thinking before speaking is important right now, and so is considering your values and interests before committing to something new. Since Sagittarius rules long-distance travel, this isn’t the best time to plan a new trip or to rush the ones already in place.
Consider where you want to be, and take your time getting there.
What to Expect from Mercury Retrograde in Sagittarius
A little more than a week after Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, Mars goes retrograde in Leo. With these important transits happening in fire signs, energy can be misdirected right now. It’s about looking at the full picture and not overwhelming yourself with too many options or interests. Take your passions and align them with your heart and willpower, without confusing inspiration with ego. Emotions are running high, yet this activation is creating a breakthrough in personal development before the year ends.
Read below to see how this Mercury retrograde transit will be for you. Read for your sun sign and rising sign.
ARIES
Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, and you are focused on the bigger picture right now, Aries. With Mercury retrograde in your 9th house of adventure over the next few weeks, this is the time to expect the unexpected and to go at your own pace. Don’t rush the clarity that is meant to bloom for you right now, and take things one day at a time.
Even if you don’t have all the answers you need right now, there are still some important truths and insights to gain. You are in the process of reinventing yourself and your life, and the universe is helping you get the space in order to do so. If you are traveling over the next few weeks, remember to be flexible and to go over plans thoroughly.
TAURUS
Mercury goes retrograde, and you enter a time of change and rebirth, Taurus. This transit, for you, is an opportunity to gain balance, perspective, and empowerment. Your commitments and close partnerships are being addressed right now, and you are seeing where your needs are being met and where they aren’t. You are on a journey of letting go and allowing more, and this is the time to focus on being more flexible rather than controlling outcomes.
This retrograde could also be affecting your shared finances and earnings, and this is a good time to take another look at the money coming in and the money going out and make sure things are in order here. Trust your intuition right now, Taurus.
GEMINI
Mercury goes retrograde in your sister sign, Sagittarius, and you are ready for a fresh perspective in love. This retrograde will highlight your 7th house of partnership, connection, romance, and inner harmony, and your heart is figuring things out right now. Confusion or disagreements are more likely within your relationship dynamics, and this is the time to address what your partnerships need.
If you have been feeling out of balance when it comes to love, then this is the time to get things back on track.
This Mercury retrograde is helping you gain a new perspective and reminds you that you deserve the love you are looking for. Use this time to forgive, grow, and use better judgment regarding matters of the heart and the relationships you are building in your life right now.
Coveteur
CANCER
This Mercury retrograde transit for you is a chance to gain some renewed clarity regarding your health, well-being, and work life. You could be feeling more pressure to perform and have it all together on the job, and there is a need to delegate, let go, and take care of your health more right now, Cancer.
This transit will highlight where some cracks are seeping, where you may need to build stronger foundations and healthier daily routines, and also how you can manage a better work/life balance. Your daily lifestyle may feel a little more difficult to find consistency in right now, and this is because new avenues and perspectives are waiting for you to grab ahold of. Overall, use this time to listen to your inner voice and do more of what feels right for you and your body.
LEO
Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, and this transit highlights your 5th house of romance, creativity, passion, and happiness, Leo. This retrograde is an opportunity for you to address what and who makes you happy and how you can show up more for these fortunate experiences in your life. You are looking at if you’ve been making your happiness as much of a priority as it should be this year and also taking a look at what sources help you align with that energy altogether.
This time is about being a little bit more flexible, doing things differently, and being open to a new perspective. Relationship developments are also providing your heart more clarity right now, and you are balancing your needs with the needs of your partnerships and creative ventures.
VIRGO
Your ruling planet Mercury goes retrograde before the year ends, and this is helping you rebuild your foundations, Virgo. Mercury will be retrograde in an area of your life that has to do with your home, history, family, and emotional stability- and you are getting a new grasp on things here.
Where you have been planting your seeds and building for your future are coming up for review during this time, and you are gaining clarity on which of these foundations is stable enough to continue to build upon. You could be feeling less secure than you would like to right now, and this change of pace is helping you reassess your goals and figure out what is worth it for you and the legacy you want to live.
Coveteur
LIBRA
Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius, and the focus turns towards your communication channels, Libra. Mercury retro is already a more chaotic time when it comes to communication, and with this retrograde also happening in your 3rd house of insight and communication, you may feel this heaviness a little more right now.
This transit, for you, is about taking your time getting your message across, being patient while traveling and running errands, and giving yourself space to gain some new clarity.
Meditation, journaling, and talking to someone who can support you are therapeutic, and know that your voice deserves to be heard. You are looking at ways you can take up more space and show up in the world without letting your insecurities keep you away from true connection, vulnerability, and understanding.
SCORPIO
This Mercury retrograde is happening in your 2nd house of income, values, assets, and self-confidence, and you are taking a step back to assess your current reality, especially financially, Scorpio. This is a good time to go over your spending habits and earnings, to find greater balance here, and to think about some of your financial goals moving forward.
Look at your resources, skills, and talents, and make sure what you are receiving is equal to or greater than what you have been giving. Less is more right now, and this isn’t the best time to overspend or overindulge, as you need more time to grasp your current stance on things, and how to increase your overall wealth and abundance.
SAGITTARIUS
With this Mercury retrograde happening in your sign, it’s hitting a little closer to home for you, Sagittarius. This is a good time to refine your goals and direction in life and how you want to show up right now. You deserve to be able to change your mind when you need to, and you are thinking about some of the things you have done and what you want to do moving forward.
Miscommunications are more likely while Mercury is in retrograde, but you can use this as a source of empowerment, knowing that you are living in your truth and allowing yourself room to grow in the process. Remember to be a little kinder to yourself during this transit and to give yourself the grace you need right now.
Coveteur
CAPRICORN
This Mercury retrograde for you, Capricorn, is about rest and taking care of your emotional world. You are being given the opportunity to spend more time alone, to gather your strength, and to heal before you enter the new year. A lot has happened, and there have been many changes in your world this year. This Mercury retrograde is here to help you find acceptance and closure.
You are in a preparation stage right now, and things can feel a little more lonesome in this energy, but with a different perspective, you can see just how much of this space your heart truly needs right now. The past is coming up for you to see things in a new light, and you are ready to gain some renewed insight, closure, and healing.
AQUARIUS
This Mercury retrograde highlights your friendships, community, and your hopes and dreams, Aquarius. You are being reminded of the importance of connection, but more significantly, of good connections. You are looking at who and what surrounds you right now and gaining clarity on whether this energy matches who you are and the things that you stand for.
Your social circle and the people around you are shifting as the power dynamics do, and you are finding your place and purpose amidst this change. It’s about identifying who and what makes you feel good and aligning things in your life to bring in more of that energy. Don’t be discouraged right now; find your people and ask for support.
PISCES
Your career and ambitions are the focus during this Mercury retrograde, Pisces. You have a lot to address here, and you are gathering your skills and talents and reminding yourself that you are worthy of your dreams. Miscommunications and setbacks are more likely within your professional world, but they are here to ask you if what you are striving for, is really what you need right now.
You are thinking a lot about how you show up in the world, what you want to be known for, and what successes you still want to obtain. This isn’t the time to let anyone’s idea or vision of you define who you are; rather, define that for yourself. Show up as you want to be seen, and don’t count yourself out right now, Pisces.
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This Is How To Keep Your Family From Driving You Crazy Over The Holidays
I promise you that if my friend wouldn’t have a complete fit for putting her full government name in the title of this piece, I would have — ‘cause y’all, if there is one person I know who, I have to mentally prep myself to hear vent around this time of year, it’s her. What it all boils down to is she’s not really much of a fan when it comes to the holidays.
Not because she doesn’t like them; it’s because her family (and her husband’s family) pretty much suck when it comes to respecting boundaries, not saying any and everything that immediately comes to their minds and not picking up on cues that they have come extremely close to wearing out their welcome. And since this has always been the case, my friend damn near freaks out at the mere thought of what Thanksgiving and Christmas will bring into her life via her relatives.
What’s wild is just how much she is not alone in all of this. In fact, USA Today once published a piece entitled, “Survey: Nearly 85% of Americans avoid family over the holidays” and a big part of the reason is because they don’t want to deal with the stress, pressure, and/or arguments about things like politics (can you just imagine what this year is gonna be like?!), religion or how to raise children.
If you’re looking at your screen in agreement and yet you know that dealing with your relatives is pretty much unavoidable, instead of giving yourself a nervous breakdown, how about applying the following tips, so that “peace and goodwill towards men” with your people is something that can be genuine and not merely performative this year?
1.Avoid Being Pressured into Hosting at Your House
Recently, I was talking to some friends who’ve been having a bit of a financially stressful time over the past several months. When I asked them what their plans were for Thanksgiving, I chuckled a bit when they said that some family members told them that they were coming to their city (and house) but they’re not sure if they are okay with that. Y’all, ain’t it wild how many people will just presume that they can stay at your place whenever they want to without thinking about — shoot, not just the cost but the imposition by coming from such an entitled space?
Anyway, my chuckle elevated to a laugh when the husband said that he wasn’t too stressed about it because if he did oblige, 72 hours firm is all he had to offer.
Look, I get it, because I’m not big on visitors myself. In part, because certain people who have stayed with me in the past think that they are “low-maintenance” when that couldn’t be further from the truth. And so, if I’m going to be the-hostess-with-the-mostest, five days is all I’ve got to take you to all the places you want to go, let you monopolize my electronic devices, and listen to you talk about stuff that, sometimes, I couldn’t care less about.
Bottom line here — you’re grown and having folks in your house, for whatever the season or reason should be seen as a privilege on their part. So, if you don’t think that you’re up to hosting this year, remember what novelist Anne Lamott once said: “’No’ is a complete sentence,” then follow that up with the wisdom of the individual who said that anyone who is looking for an explanation for your boundaries is usually looking for a loophole in them too. SMDH.
Y’all, hosting should be a pleasure, not something you feel pressured to do. If the latter is what’s going on — YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO IT.
2.Don’t LISTEN to Everything That Is Said
Personally, I’m not someone who believes that seniors/elders are too old to change. As long as someone has breath in their body, they can choose to be(come) a better person. At the same time, it is also my belief that since a lot of folks don’t subscribe to this way of thinking, older individuals will sometimes manipulate their way into saying whatever, whenever, however, and then acting like folks should just take it as a sign of “respecting” them.
Honey, the Golden Rule of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” doesn’t have an age range on it; it applies to everyone. Unfortunately, some folks are not elevated in their thinking, so they seem to find an odd sense of pleasure in gaslighting and triggering folks. One way to handle them without all hell breaking loose is to practice the art of hearing without listening.
What’s the difference? Hearing is when you acknowledge what is being said on a very surface level while listening is when you fully take something into your psyche. That said, when your great-aunt is back on some you’re too old to be single, and, in a minute, no one is going to want to marry you, hear her without listening. For one thing, she doesn’t know enough about your life to draw such drastic conclusions.
Secondly, never allow anyone to rattle you to the point where you start to question your own life and reality. When you hear, you can shrug her off and walk into the next room, so that she can focus on low-key tormenting someone else. If you listen, that’s how you can find yourself being so hurt or offended that the rest of your day is ruined.
When it comes to cyclic nonsense, it isn’t worth it, chile. Let it go…in one ear and right out of the other.
3.Choose Your Battles
A few days ago, I actually watched a cute Christmas movie on Tubi entitledA Verry Merry Hood Christmas. In case you want to check it out, I won’t give the storylines away. What I will say is there were all kinds of examples of what happens when folks don’t choose their battles; 8 times outta 10, whenever that happens, it damn near turns things into a war. For instance, if you’re not a Christian, why get into debates about “the true meaning of Christmas”?
Whoever you voted for, I don’t even care for this phrase, yet it really “is what it is” at this point, so why get angry? You’ve been married for a while and don’t want kids? You don’t have to prove why you feel that way. Just bought a car and your uncle wants to take it upon himself to berate you about the economy? Just eat some pie and do the hearing thing that we just talked about.
My point here is we’re all individuals which means that we’re not going to agree on everything. My bigger point? Even if you win an argument, it’s not like there’s a $1 million check waiting for you. If you really want to experience “peace and goodwill,” choose your battles. Straight up.
4.Going Elsewhere? Nap. Meditate. No Sugar and/or Alcohol Beforehand.
Contrary to however your loved ones try to make you feel when people are in your house, you can set whatever rules/boundaries that you would like. When you’re going over to someone else’s place, though? Yeah…not so much. And if you already sense that there is potential for you having to use up more energy (or self-control) than you would like, there are a few things that you should consider doing before heading out of the door.
First, if you’re already a bit sleep-deprived (for whatever the reason), take a nap. Naps reduce stress, make you more alert, and help to boost your mood. Once you wake up, do 10 minutes or so of meditation. Meditating also relieves stress and anxiety, strengthens your willpower, and helps you to have more compassion toward others (well looka there — LOL).
And finally, try and keep sugar and alcohol to a minimum. Sugar is a stimulant that can make you feel good for a moment and then not so good once you crash from the rush. And alcohol? I mean, most of us have a relative who gets drunk AF over the holidays. It might be funny but it’s also hella awkward and sometimes leads to unnecessary drama. Why create what can be avoided?
5.Manage Your Expectations
One of my favorite husbands has been married for about 20 years now. He always makes me laugh when he tells me what he says to his wife whenever she finds herself comparing them to other couples or she’s impatient about something that she wants: “Babe, you really need to lower your expectations.” And you know what? It works. LOL.
For any of you who want to challenge his statement, there is absolutely nothing wrong with lowering expectations — when they are unrealistic to begin with. And when it comes to this article, specifically, expecting people to be any different than they’ve been, shoot, ever since you’ve known them, is only setting you up to be frustrated…if not flat-out mad.
It is actually the actor Bruce Lee who once said, “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine” and, have mercy, I can only imagine how smoothly family/holiday events would go if everyone maintained that mindset while spending time with each other people. Try applying this mantra this year. See how it goes.
6.Know Your Limits (and Honor Them)
Boundaries are limits and there really is no point in having any if you’re not going to honor them — and by honoring them, that means articulating them and being okay with providing a “cause and effect” if they are violated. And what kind of boundaries should you consider setting?
Being someone’s child, grandchild, niece, etc. doesn’t make you A CHILD. Therefore, refuse to be spoken to in a way that is patronizing or condescending or that makes you think that someone’s advice is a directive. At this point in the game, it’s not.
Don’t say “yes” to something if you don’t really want to do it. Yes, you’re going to have to compromise; however, if you are being asked — or worse, told — to do something that you absolutely don’t want to do and yet fear or guilt is motivating you to do it, you are always going to be disrespected in this way. “Yes” is your right. “No” is too. Never forget that.
Refuse to overextend yourself. Spending more money than you have. Going above and beyond to the point where it’s going to take you two weeks to recover once the holidays are over. Doing things that will cause you to feel nothing more than resentful the entire time — none of this is healthy for your mind, body, or spirit — so why do it? All of us have a bandwidth. Constantly going past it is actually a form of disrespect.
Plan out responses for the out-of-pocket people. If for the past five years, your mother-in-law has said something crazy about your weight or mothering skills, don’t bite your tongue or rail on your husband afterward like you always do. This year, think about what an appropriate response would be (like “I really wish you wouldn’t bring that up anymore. It makes me uncomfortable.”). Oftentimes, what makes mountains out of molehills when it comes to dealing with family is people react out of emotion rather than logic and facts.
When someone runs over a boundary, address it. One definition of insanity is doing the same thing while expecting the same result, right? Keeping that in mind, I am a firm believer that it gets to the disrespect portion of the program once a boundary has been stated and then someone overrides it. So, if you’ve let people know a limit and they pretty much convey that they don’t care by being dismissive of it, don’t let it slide — bring it to their attention.
Whether they need time to adjust or they need to realize that not everyone is just gonna let them do…whatever, you deserve to enjoy the holidays knowing you’re going to be around people who are safe enough to respect your (reasonable) requests.
7.Reward Yourself Before — and After
Please don’t feel bad if you’ve got some relatives that you love yet don’t like very much because more people actually feel this way than they would care to admit. Instead, if you know that you are going to have to be around those individuals this holiday season, plan a way to reward yourself for not dodging them before you see them and then for acting like a mature adult after interacting with them too.
Reward literally means “something given or received in return or recompense for service, merit, hardship, etc.” and when you decide to exercise self-control, patience, and as much empathy as possible while dealing with difficult people, a day of binge-watching your favorite show, a scheduled massage or deciding to go phone-free for an entire weekend is more than warranted. You survived the crazy with class and grace. Give thanks, sis. Real talk.
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