Inspiring Motivational Stories

 

Read Rajeshree’s story – Written by Pratibha

The world-famous TCS New York City Marathon — the most iconic and celebrated marathon in the world! Every year, over 50,000 runners from across the globe take part in this incredible race. In 2017, I was one of the lucky few who won the lottery to run it.

I still remember the moment I got the confirmation email — I was over the moon! It was going to be my first marathon, and I threw myself into training with everything I had. I followed all the best practices: drank plenty of water, ate clean and nutritious meals, and stuck to a disciplined sleep schedule. The moment my head hit the pillow each night, I’d drift off without a worry in the world. I was in peak physical condition — the best shape of my life — and more motivated than ever.

Then, everything changed.

It was October 2017 when life took an unexpected turn. I remember it vividly. What began as a seemingly minor discomfort — something I initially dismissed as routine training fatigue — slowly started to grow into something more concerning. At first, I told myself it was just soreness from pushing hard. But deep down, I sensed something wasn’t quite right.

It was surreal — almost impossible to believe. The word “cancer” is terrifying on its own, but it always felt distant, like something that happened to other people. I was healthy, strong, and in the best shape of my life. I had never been to a doctor other than routine checkup. How could this be happening to me? Was there a mistake? Was this really my report? A whirlwind of disbelief and doubt rushed through my mind. I still ran my marathon with the lump on Nov 5^th.

On November 13th, 2017, I was formally diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer.

One of the first things the doctors told me was that the treatment would cause hair loss. The medications were strong — and with them came the inevitability of shedding clumps of hair. The thought of watching it fall out, strand by strand, felt more distressing than the diagnosis itself. So, instead of waiting for that to happen, I took control. I shaved my head — on my own terms. I even had a Head Shaving Party. My son Kaustubh shaved his head to show his support.

It was my way of saying, You may change how I look, but you won't take who I am.

I couldn’t change the diagnosis, but I could choose how I responded to it.

The Journey Through Cancer: A Story of Strength in the Storm

Chemo
The medicine that saves but also takes.
My body ached. My taste changed. Fatigue settled into my bones like fog.
But I kept showing up. Needle after needle. Round after round.
Because healing, even when invisible, was happening. As a true foodie, one of the hardest side effects of treatment was losing my sense of taste. For someone who found joy in flavors, textures, and the simple comfort of good food, this was the hardest part to cope with.Surgery

The day I gave a part of myself away to stay alive.
Scars were left — physical ones, yes — but also emotional ones.
Looking in the mirror felt different. I grieved the loss…

However, I realized that it is just a body part, it’s not me.

Radiation

The silent beam that targeted what was left — precise, persistent.

Each session was a surrender: trusting the science, trusting the process.

Yes, I had moments of discomfort and extreme fatigue, no one faces something like this without feeling those things. But I made a conscious decision: I wasn’t going to be defined by cancer. I was going to meet it with courage, hope, and a little humor where I could find it.

I started focusing on what I could control — my mindset, my daily habits, the love and support I surrounded myself with. I leaned into gratitude: for the people by my side, for my doctors, for every day I woke up still breathing and still fighting. One of the greatest blessings during this time was the unwavering support of the people around me- My husband, my son, my sister, my family and all my friends.

They say you can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. That became my mantra. I wasn’t just trying to survive — I was learning to live fully, even in the storm.

 Lessons Learned

Through this journey, I learned some of life’s most profound lessons — not from books or doctors, but from the quiet moments in between: the stillness, the struggle, the surrender.

I learned to love deeply, but without clinging — to cherish people and moments without trying to control or hold on too tightly. Love, I realized, is most powerful when it's freely given, without expectation or fear of loss.

It wasn’t enough to forgive others — I had to learn to forgive myself too. — for the things I couldn't control, for the times I wasn’t strong, for simply being human. Self-compassion became a quiet but powerful kind of healing.

And perhaps most importantly, I’m grateful for my rebirth and thankful for every moment, each one a reminder to live fully, love deeply, and embrace the present.

‘Nov 2017 - July 2018’ -during this time, I had 8 chemotherapies, 1 major surgery, and 25 radiations. After this regime, my doctor declared that I am cancer-free!

The Journey Forward….

It took me almost a year and a half to feel normal from within. In January 2020, I started feeling much better.  I had joined a gym, eager to take better care of myself. I started hiking regularly and, along the way, met like-minded people who shared the same love for movement and the outdoors. Every other day became a rhythm of wellness —Walking, Yoga and weight training.

I started hiking regularly with friends and joined a meet-up group, Desi Outdoors. I started challenging myself with tougher hikes slowly and steadily like Catskills peaks in different seasons, Mt. Washington, Franconia Ridge …etc.   

Weekend hiking along with job and other social activities became a routine. ‘Himalayas’ started calling me. They say, ‘mountains are calling, I must go’ (John Muir’s quote). That’s exactly what happened, and I started my first expedition in a new country.

2022 March– Annapurna Base Camp: A Journey into the Heart of the Himalayas

In 2022, I set out on a journey that would test not just my body, but my spirit — a 9-day trek to Annapurna Base Camp. The days were long, the trails were steep and winding, but each step felt like a calling — the mountain pulling me closer with its quiet power.

We stayed in tents under the vast Himalayan sky, surrounded by silence, stars, and the crisp breath of the earth at 14,000 feet. After 10,000 feet, the air grew thinner, and acclimatization became essential. Every breath reminded me how high I had come — and how far I still had to go.

But there was something sacred about that struggle. You feel the mountain not as an obstacle, but as a teacher. It humbles you; it asks for patience, presence, and grit. And so, you push forward — not out of pride, but because something deep within you responds to that silent, ancient call.

I carried my own weight — quite literally. My backpack was heavy, but I had trained for it. Each step with it on my shoulders was a reminder of the discipline I had built in the months before. Carrying that weight felt symbolic too — of what I had endured, and what I was capable of overcoming.

There were moments of awe that words can’t touch: the sudden break of sunlight over snow-capped peaks, the kindness of fellow trekkers, the warmth of tea shared after a long, cold climb. The mountain stripped away everything unnecessary — what remained was raw, real, and unforgettable

2022 September- Camino Portuguese: It was a 160 miles spiritual walk (carried our own 18-20 lbs backpack) in 14 days from Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostella, Spain.

2023 – Everest Base Camp: A Journey to the Edge of Limits

The Everest Base Camp trek in 2023 was a whole new adventure— in every sense. Higher, harsher, and more demanding than anything I had done before. At over 17,000 feet, the air thins, but so does everything else — your energy, your appetite, your sense of comfort. It pushes you to your edge.

Before we even began, things had already started to unravel. Rajesh, my husband tested positive for COVID. Another close friend, who had trained so hard and prepared every step of the way, began feeling unwell too. With a heavy heart, she made the difficult decision to stay back. Suddenly, from a team we had built with such care, one person decided not to continue… We had come so far, invested so much — mentally, physically, emotionally. You feel really bad, but the journey continues as the mountain doesn’t wait for perfect conditions.

As we ascended, the altitude began playing tricks on the mind. The higher we went, the stranger things felt. At that altitude, hallucinations aren't uncommon — your thoughts drift somewhere between dreams and reality. You feel like a zombie: legs heavy, mind clouded, moving forward powered by something deeper than logic. Breathing becomes your only focus. You're not thinking about your hiking buddies, your friends… nothing outside this moment.

You just keep walking. Step after step, your breath and movement fall into rhythm. Slowly, you sink into the present. Many people drop out before reaching this point — and that thought fills you with gratitude. This is a rare chance, and you're still here. Still moving.

A wave of appreciation rises — for your body, your breath, your resilience, and your life. To be here, in the heart of the Himalayas, surrounded by such staggering beauty, feels like a gift. Eventually, the rhythm overtakes everything — and you fall into a quiet, waking trance.

But somehow, in that exhaustion, there was clarity. Stripped of everything comfortable, you find out who you really are. And when we finally reached Base Camp, it wasn’t just a destination — it was a quiet, sacred victory. A whisper to myself: You did it!

September 2023- Machu Picchu: Another high-altitude multiple days hike in South America

June 2024- Mount Kailash Manasarovar parikrama: This is considered as the holiest walk in Tibet.

This is 52 kilometers walk around Mountain Kailash, which is considered as the most challenging part of the tour, as you need to pass the highest point at Dolma La Pass at 18,471 feet.

 Sept 2024- Grand Canyon Rim to Rim

The Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim hike in one day is one of the most intense and awe-inspiring physical and mental challenges a hiker can undertake. It takes you from the North Rim, down through the inner canyon, across the Colorado River, and up to the South Rim—or vice versa. It’s roughly 21 to 24 miles with an elevation gain of 7000 +ft.

There are moments in life when everything feels heavier — your body, your thoughts, the silence between heartbeats. Maybe you’re facing a diagnosis that rattled your world. Maybe you’re standing at the foot of a mountain, and it’s not just the climb ahead, but everything it represents: Doubts, challenges, uncertainty.

In those moments, it’s easy to feel small. Easy to want to turn back. But then, something incredible happens — you choose hope. You choose to believe that your story isn’t over. That this struggle isn’t the end, but the beginning of something greater.

That’s the miracle of staying positive.

Positivity is not pretending the pain doesn’t exist. It’s standing in the middle of the storm and saying, “I will not let this break me.” It’s the fire that burns quietly in your chest, telling you to take one more step, one more breath, one more try — even when it hurts.

When your body is weak, a positive spirit lifts you. It says: You are more than this moment. When the road is steep and the air is thin, positivity gives you wings. It whispers: Keep going. You're stronger than you know.

It’s what carries cancer patients through months of treatment with their heads held high. It’s what drives climbers to push past limits, not for the view at the top, but for the triumph within. It’s what transforms tears into fuel, and uncertainty into focus.

Because the truth is —
Mountains aren’t just made of rock.
They’re made of stories.
Of struggle.
Of rising again and again.

And when you choose to stay positive, you become the kind of person who doesn’t just survive — you inspire. You remind the world that light still wins. That love, faith, and grit are more powerful than any diagnosis, any failure, any fall.

So, wherever you are right now — healing, climbing, fighting — hold on to that inner light. Nurture it. Let it grow. Because the path may be steep, but your spirit was made for this.