Pam Hamilton believes in the power of gratitude.
So much so, the breast cancer survivor who underwent a double masectomy in March 2015, wants to use her story to inspire others through public speaking and workshops on gratitude.
鈥淟ife is short and we need to appreciate each other,鈥� Hamilton said.
Hamilton, 45, works in the medical field as a recreation therapist and, in her other role as a life speaker, uses gratitude through programs and one-to-one mentoring.
鈥淥ne gentlemen who I work with has the last stages of ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and we do gratitude together,鈥� said Hamilton, who focuses on the benefits and barriers of gratitude, applying gratitude past, present, and future, and reviewing personality/social types.
鈥淲hen I had cancer, I wrote out 17 tips when you鈥檙e diagnosed with cancer,鈥� Hamilton said. 鈥淥ne of them was, find gratitude in everything. During my journey, I had finished my project of 1,000 things to be thankful. I felt a little lost during my treatment and I thought, 鈥業 needed to start another one up.鈥欌��
Top of her list of things to be thankful for, was an occasion where a woman gave Hamilton her parking spot at the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre in Surrey.
鈥淭here was one hour left on her ticket,鈥� Hamilton said. 鈥淪o here I was, getting treatment for cancer, and I was so appreciative for that parking spot.鈥�
Hamilton鈥檚 message is being passed on to her children Isaac, 14, Seth, 12, and Sierra, 10. Hamilton proudly points to a school assignment her daughter did focused on 鈥榝acing challenges.鈥�
Sierra鈥檚 mom is her inspiration. 鈥淚 have no idea how my mom got cancer,鈥� Sierra wrote. 鈥淏ut right now my mom is alive and working so I am so happy for her. She got cancer in 2015. It is 2017 right now so it鈥檚 a miracle.鈥�
She went on to write, 鈥淚 am so lucky she is alive. My mom never gave up. I never give up, too.鈥�
Looking back on her cancer, Hamilton said she was glad that she took a proactive approach after discovering a lump on her breast. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad I got it checked out instead of thinking 鈥榠t鈥檚 not a big deal.鈥欌��
She said her husband, Brad, 鈥渨as positive and inspiring鈥� in helping her battle the disease.
As time went on, Hamilton said she developed 鈥渁n attitude of gratitude.鈥�
鈥淚 actually looked forward to some of my appointments, because I was just so appreciative of, we live in Canada, there鈥檚 treatment, and the medical system,鈥� Hamilton said. 鈥淚 just started writing out different things about gratitude, and I鈥檓 very passionate about speaking, so I put this workshop together.鈥�
Hamilton said she loves this quote: 鈥淧ossibly the deepest human need is to feel appreciated.鈥�
鈥淚 ask people, 鈥榠s this true?鈥� And everyone always says, 鈥榶eah, we underestimate feeling appreciated.鈥欌��
To contact Hamilton, call 778-840-8073, or email pam@pamhamilton.me
