03/27/2019 By Rachel Mihalko

Lucky is not a word I would use

To describe what I have been through

But perhaps I could change my perspective

And try to see things

Another way

I have grown 

And matured 

And become more myself

I have learned

That things are not always 

What they look like

For I never really looked

Sick.

I have gotten closer 

To others

Who have suffered 

And I have seen the beauty

That comes 

From pain.

Everyone around me

I seem to count as lucky 

But why

Can’t I see that for me?

I have survived so much

But I still cannot see

How surviving 

Counts me lucky

Because 

Did I really deserve 

To go through this 

At all?

So one day I might be able 

to count myself lucky. 

But today is not yet 

That day.

Rachel Mihalko is the Director of Content at Elephants & Tea magazine and is a Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor. She loves theatre, writing poetry, and crafting of all sorts. Reading has fueled her passion for writing, and you will rarely find her without a book on hand. You can connect with her on Instagram.