Progression, Not Perfection: A Letter to Surviviors

Dear Survivor,

I see you.

I see the way you try—every single day—to do everything right. To eat the right foods, exercise the right amount, avoid the wrong ingredients, get the right amount of sleep, drink enough water, and keep your stress levels in check. You’re constantly measuring, monitoring, and adjusting, trying to build a body that cancer can’t touch.

And I see how exhausting that can be.

Because it’s not just about staying healthy—it’s about staying alive. You’ve been through the unthinkable, and now every decision feels like it carries so much weight. It’s a delicate balance: wanting to do everything possible to protect yourself while also wanting to actually live—to enjoy a meal without dissecting it, to go a day without worrying about whether you did enough, to simply be without the pressure of perfection.

I know that pull. That struggle. The desire to be disciplined because you know what’s at stake, but also the deep craving to feel free.

So let me remind you of something powerful: progression is the perfection.

Every small choice you make toward your well-being counts. Every nourishing meal, every deep breath, every moment of movement, every time you choose rest when you need it—it all adds up. It’s not about doing everything flawlessly; it’s about consistently showing up for yourself in whatever way you can.

Perfection isn’t the goal. Living is.

So, give yourself grace. Celebrate the little wins. Let go of the guilt when things don’t go exactly as planned. You are already doing so much, and I promise you—it matters. You matter.

Keep going, one step at a time. You are not alone in this.

With love and understanding,
Camille