How a Simple Daily Practice Helped Me Feel at Home in My Body Again After Breast Cancer

This month, I’m turning 60...a milestone that feels both surreal and sacred.

There was a time I wasn’t sure I’d see this birthday.

That awareness makes every sunrise, every warm shower, every cup of tea, every deep breath of gratitude feel like a gift.

Birthdays, especially the big ones, feel different after going through something like breast cancer, don’t they?

As someone who normally doesn't make a fuss over birthdays, I felt a nudge to really acknowledge this one.

But instead of a big party, I’m celebrating by sharing something that changed everything for me...the gentle practice that helped me come home to my body after breast cancer.. And I hope it helps you too.

Because gratitude isn’t just a feeling.
It’s how I learned to love my body again. 💗

☁️ When Gratitude Feels Out of Reach

After my double mastectomy, stepping into the shower was one of the hardest parts of my day.
The mirror felt like an enemy, and the reflection...someone I didn’t recognize anymore.

I rushed through, numb and disconnected, unsure how to relate to a body that no longer looked or felt like mine.

Then one morning, something shifted.

I turned the water a little warmer, placed my hand gently over the footprints where my breasts once lay, and whispered a single word:

“Thank you.”

At first, it felt awkward. Then came another:

“Thank you, arms, for holding my loved ones.”
“Thank you, legs, for carrying me through another day.”
“Thank you, scars, for reminding me that healing is happening.”

That tiny moment changed everything.

💗 The Science—and Soul—of Gratitude

Gratitude softened what grief had hardened.

And as I later learned, there’s science behind that shift.

When we express appreciation, our nervous system relaxes, our stress hormones lower, and our breathing deepens.

The body begins to feel safe again.

And safety...not pushing harder...is where real recovery begins.

🫖 A Simple Ritual for You

If you’re struggling to reconnect with your body, I invite you to try this gentle ritual:

1️⃣ Turn the water warm. Let it feel soothing, not scalding.

2️⃣ Place a hand over your heart or wherever feels safe.

3️⃣ Whisper a quiet thank you.

4️⃣ Notice what comes up next, another thank you, a tear, a smile. Let it come, without judgment.

5️⃣ End with a deep breath and a soft towel hug.You don’t need to force positivity or erase pain.

Gratitude is the bridge between them, the place where healing and honesty can coexist.

🌼 Relearning to See Yourself

Over time, that shower became my sacred space.
A daily moment as I cleansed my body, to release what no longer served me, and come home to the woman I was becoming.

Gratitude didn’t erase my scars, it helped me see them differently.
Not as reminders of loss, but as proof of courage, resilience, and survival.

Now, as I turn 60, I feel more at home in my body than ever before...not because it’s perfect, but because I’ve learned to meet it with compassion. I'm truly so grateful for this incredible vessel that carries me through all of life's ups and downs.

For decades, I critiqued and tore her apart every time I looked in the mirror…

but she kept holding me.

She kept going.

No matter how cruel my thoughts were.

I’m learning that aging, like recovery, isn’t something to fight - it’s something to honor.

A full head of grey hair, every wrinkle, every scar, every laugh line is evidence that I’m still here.

Still learning.
Still growing.
Still grateful.

💛 A Gentle Gift for You

If this story touched something inside you…
if you’re learning to reconnect with your body too…
I made something that might support you this season.

✨ 7 Boundaries to Safeguard Your Energy

A simple, soothing guide to help you protect your peace, say yes to yourself, and create more breathing room in your day — especially when life feels full.

🫖 Download it free... it’s my birthday gift to you.

☕ A Final Thought

Gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring your hard days.
It’s an invitation to honor them...with honesty, gentleness, and love.

So, the next time you step into the shower, take a deep breath and say:

“Thank you, body, for showing up for me again today.”

Because even when it’s hard, you’re still here.
And that, my friend, is something to be deeply grateful for. 💛

You may also like: 

💛 Why Did I Get Sick?

💛 The Cancer Personality Profile

💛  What Most Survivorship Plans Miss

🩷 Who am I?

Hey my friend 👋, I’m Karin Del Maestro, Certified Health Coach, breast cancer thriver, and the creator of Thrivership School—a trauma-informed group coaching program helping breast cancer survivors restore energy, rebuild identity, and reconnect with their bodies. Through science-backed rituals and heartfelt practices, I guide women to move from merely surviving to truly thriving, with ease, grace, and plenty of tea.🫖