Besides this blog: which I consider to be a personal account of ‘one man’s story‘ and how I dealt with life after diagnosis, I have also created an Instagram account.

I plan to use it as a vessel to encourage me to research, learn, and disseminate worthwhile information relating to brain tumours and perhaps a bit about the neuroscience behind how the mind works.

I’m fast becoming an expert in this particular field, as you might imagine, as some of the information may help myself or others directly. I initially failed the Neuroscience exam during my Optometry degree at Cardiff University. It’s somewhat ironic that it has now become a subject of great fascination for me, thirteen years later! 😅

In truth, I’ve always been interested in how the brain and mind work and why we do what we do. So, this will be a great way to explore that. If you want to support me with this endeavour and also increase your knowledge base on all things brain tumour-related and even a bit on how the mind works, follow along with the new Instagram account. It can be found in the social media links attached at the top of this page. It’s a bit bare right now, but give it time, and I aim to fill it up

I have also started a Facebook group for members of the brain tumour community and their carers, actively focused on survival from this cruel disease.

There are a few similar support-focused groups that I am part of presently, but I have yet to find one that provides enough satisfactory, informed approaches on how to not only survive but thrive for people affected by this condition.

Tackling this with a 360-degree approach

Dave Bolton – Ahead of the game foundation

A key aspect of this will be to provide useful resources for those affected by the condition, as well as their loved ones, about how to deal with the stresses and mental burden that comes with caring for someone with this condition. (Which in my opinion can be worse than having the condition itself.)

In my humble opinion, life’s too short for anyone to spend all their time in a self-inflicted pity party, mourning prematurely about what will come to everyone eventually, one way or another. 

With this group, I aim to create a safe space where people can share and be passionate about what they are doing to extend and enhance the quality of their lives.

‘Above all ,this group should be an informative celebration of life and a two-fingered salute to brain tumours globally ‘

Connor McCann

The link for this can be found at the top of the page in my social media links. It’s just getting off its feet, but with time, I aim to turn it into a fantastic resource.

It is a bit morbid to reflect on, but the stoic in me loves this:

‘Memento Mori’

– Remember you must die –

For me, this is a very powerful statement. I take several things from it. Firstly, you came into this world with nothing, and you will leave it one day (hopefully a long time from now.) With nothing.

Everything you accumulate are just ‘accessories’ and ‘comfort crutches’. So, to get overly attached to material things is pointless. From the new phone you just bought, the designer bag, the paddleboard (ahem 😅),The holiday of a lifetime or the new car. They are nice and all, and may arguably help to enhance your experience of life temporarily, but most of the time, they’re just a quick dopamine hit to tide us over and numb the pain of a living a life without purpose. 

I have come to see that there is true beauty and great reward in finding our purpose in life through meaningful connection and challenge.

I believe everyone has one. It’s just tricky to know where ours lies.

For some, it may look like: Being a great leader. Caring for others. Writing beautiful poetry that inspires. Creating art that fills the heart with hope. Maybe for others, it’s rallying behind a cause or furthering research and science. The list is endless. 

Finding out where your purpose lies is a daunting task, and may shift over time, but normally I find that the path least travelled is most rewarding (as well as the most difficult.) Albeit some stray from the path from time to time and get lost in the weeds. (Myself included.)

The last thing I would want on my deathbed is to look up at all the versions of myself that could have been and suffer the harsh regrets of what could have been possible. Be that in all aspects of life; Mentality. Love. Career. Family Life. Connection with others. Spirituality and achieving my physical potential.

Another good quote is:

“A ship in a harbour is safe but that is not what ships are built for”

John A. Shedd

I interpret this as: You will have to take risks to find your true purpose in life and push yourself out of your comfort zone. 

Ultimately, one of my personal aspirations is to depart from this world having contributed to making it a better place than when I entered it.

I hope that, in some respects, I’m already making progress, even if this blog and these groups provide comfort or solace to only a few individuals through my words and experiences. As time passes, my goal is to have a positive impact on a broader scale.

Something tells me in the last year or two my purpose has shifted, but to where, we will have to find out.

One thing I know for sure is that I want… No… I deserve to be the best version of myself.

I have been given the opportunity to have a second chance at life. I’m taking it wholeheartedly.

Care to join?