At age 62, Susan was living a cabin-in-the-woods quiet life, filled with books, hikes, dog walks, a loving partner, good friends, and no reason to believe any of it would ever change. Until it did.

She lost control of her body and mind and received the crushing blow of a brain tumor diagnosis. Once her body was restored by a team of brilliant neurosurgeons and the miracle of modern medicine, it was up to Susan to figure out how to live peacefully on a watch-and-wait plan with her inoperable, but stable, brain tumor.

Forever changed by her diagnosis, she started to view life through the lens of the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, embracing her perfectly imperfect brain. With time and a lot of practice, her watch-and-wait treatment protocol morphed into a new lifestyle where she found the unexpected gift of a calmer and more creative mind.

Whether you are living with a chronic illness, fearful about disease progression or get anxious about an aging mind and body, cultivating a grateful wabi-sabi mindset can help you navigate life's inevitable uncertainties, appreciate the beauty of imperfection and find more value in the ordinary moments of everyday life.