After lung cancer surgery, I worked diligently to reach my new maximum capacity—whatever that might be. I initially believed if I worked at it I’d be “recovered” when I could do triangle pose and walk up hills without effort. But over time, I’ve come to realize recovery isn’t an outcome but a process, and it has nothing to do with executing a yoga pose.

Whether realistic or not, I do consider myself the healthiest person I know at my age plus 10 years in either direction. Being “healthy” is my identity. But getting a cancer diagnosis made it real: none of that matters, I am a mere mortal after all.