Junior League recognizes fight against cancer

Give up everything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

That was the request made of hundreds of women by keynote Speaker Regina Brett at the Annual Junior League of Youngstown’s 16th Pink Ribbon Tea.

She used the rainy weather as a metaphor for how being diagnosed with breast cancer used to feel.

Brett said attitude has changed in recent years and asked the audience that in spite of, and because of the rain, “Isn’t it a great day to be alive?”

Brett is a writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and a breast cancer survivor. Recently, she published the book, “God Never Blinks.”

Brett imparted wisdom from her experience with breast cancer to the women in attendance, including the mantra, “Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good” and “The greatest gift of cancer is learning to slow down.”

She asked the audience to give up anything in their lives, including relationships, that weren’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

“Every hour you spend on things that aren’t (that way) is an hour of your life,” she explained. “Cancer has reordered my life.”

Brett requested audience members find something in their life to say ‘no’ to and find something else they want to say ‘yes’ to.

The Junior League of Youngstown presented Regina with a $1,000 check to Gathering Place in Cleveland, which, like the Pink Ribbon Tea, seeks to support, educate and empower individuals and families touched by cancer through programs and services.