Stars and Stripes and Courage - Oh My!

Classic movies withstand the test of time for a reason. Sure, there's entertainment - but there's usually a deeper lesson in the take away.

In The Wizard of Oz, our age-old friends Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Man, and The Cowardly Lion each learn they always had the power within and the traits they so desperately sought from the Wizard. For the Lion specifically, just because he felt some fear - he thought he was a coward. But as the Wizard clears up, that was never the case at all.

On that note - and nearly four decades later - we're kicking off this month with a similar sentiment, following the example and wise words of our July Survivor.

"Courage doesn't mean you don't get afraid, courage means you don't let fear stop you."

Marcy Prendes, who not only talks the talk but walks the walk (see above), met her breast cancer diagnosis head on with a disapproving shake of the head.

In other words, not today breast cancer. Or in the words of the Lion, "Put 'em up...put 'em up!"

"I remember my doctor telling me it would take at least two years of my life and I didn't believe it," she recalled. "Two years I was never going to get back, so at that moment I decided cancer was not going to win, I was in charge and my life was simply going to be a bit altered - but cancer was not going to dictate what I did, how I felt or how I lived for that matter."

Clearly, Marcy wasn't playing around. She even tackled other challenges while she was at it, like snorkeling, despite her fear of the ocean!

With this kind of determination, she continued to live quite normally during treatment, attending her children's games and activities, vacationing and even hosting BBQs.

"I continued living my life and doing everything pretty much as I had previously."

Of course, Marcy admits none of this was easy and at times became trying - but just as she said - courage doesn't mean you don't get afraid.

How fitting that Marcy represents July. With Independence Day leading the month - we're reminded of such courage and bravery in the millions of men and women who embody this strength day after day, leading by example to stand up to challenges, fears, and anything that threatens to hinder our quality of life - including diagnosis.

And with that we send a huge happy birthday to America and additional birthday wishes to our March Survivor, Maggie Joralemon, who also celebrates her birthday this month.

We're a fierce pack!

Before we go we want to thank you for not only reading all the latest and greatest over here at EOTS -- but also for following us on all the socials and clicking like with such love <3 !

Speaking of socials, over on Insta we recently shared the words of one of our most favorite speeches ever so in case you missed it...

"Never give in. Never give in.

Never, never, never, never

- in nothing, great or small, large or petty -

never give in -

except to convictions of honor and good sense.

Never yield to the apparently

overwhelming might of the enemy."

- Winston Churchill

So with the Lion, Wizard, Winston, and Marcy in mind - until next time, keep your head up and your Eye on Strength!