As a personal trainer and wellness coach, Stacey Garcia was doing everything right. She ate well, exercised, and took great care of herself. That’s why her cancer diagnosis came as an extra shock, and in this episode, she explains how she dealt with this news and found strength and resilience as she battled her disease. Now in recovery, Stacey helps guide others through similar challenges both in her daily work as well as her podcast Never Miss a Monday.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Stacey Garcia Bill Burke introduces Stacey Garcia, host of ‘Never Miss a Monday’ podcast.

02:15 Stacey’s Background and Career Stacey discusses her career path, from being a third-generation dancer to becoming a personal trainer and integrative health coach.

05:12 Cancer Diagnosis and Reiki Stacey recounts the shocking diagnosis of cancer despite her healthy lifestyle, triggered by a nightmare. She describes how she discovered a lump, navigated the diagnostic process, and eventually found healing and purpose through Reiki during her recovery.

09:26 Never Miss a Monday Podcast Stacey shares the origins of her podcast’s title, ‘Never Miss a Monday,’ stemming from her athletic training philosophy. She explains how her cancer diagnosis pivoted the podcast’s focus to survivorship and mindset, featuring inspiring stories from various survivors.

13:59 Embracing Mondays for Success Stacey elaborates on her ‘Never Miss a Monday’ philosophy, advocating for intentional Sunday self-care to ensure a strong start to the week.

16:49 Communicating the Diagnosis to Children Stacey shares the challenging experience of telling her young children about her cancer diagnosis, highlighting the importance of honesty and age-appropriate information.

19:50 Silver Linings and Community Support Stacey reflects on the silver linings of her cancer journey, including developing deep gratitude, a shift in perspective, and discovering the power of community. She highlights how her experience inspired her to use her recovery as a gift to support and educate others through her podcast.

23:46 Survivor’s Guilt and Podcast Impact Stacey addresses the complexities of ‘survivor’s guilt’ and how her early diagnosis motivated her to give back to the cancer community. She details her podcast’s mission to educate and empower, featuring diverse guests who embody a survivorship and empowerment mindset.

28:39 Optimism, Meaning, and Future Focus Stacey discusses optimism as a choice and a daily practice, aligning with Viktor Frankl’s ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by focusing on what’s ahead. She emphasizes that challenges are temporary, and maintaining a forward-looking mindset is crucial for overcoming adversity.

33:00 Dealing with Relapse and Self-Advocacy Stacey shares her decision to pursue an alternative route for cancer reoccurrence prevention, prioritizing quality of life over conventional treatment. She underscores the critical importance of stress management, self-advocacy in healthcare, and early detection, especially for women with dense breast tissue.

39:30 Gratitude and Medical Advancements Stacey emphasizes that gratitude feeds optimism, encouraging appreciation for past blessings and current advancements in medicine and technology. She highlights the importance of leveraging resources like remote Reiki and continuous learning for well-being.

41:19 Nature’s Healing Power and Sunday Prep Stacey advocates for ‘forest bathing’ and connecting with nature for cell regeneration and joy, recalling the concept of ‘nature deficit disorder.’

46:20 The ‘Get To’ Mindset and Conclusion Stacey champions the ‘get to’ versus ‘have to’ mindset, transforming daily tasks into acts of gratitude and self-love.