Shayna Kaufmann

Compassion, as outlined in her book, helps Kaufmann cope with cancer’s return

Am I shocked? Not really. From the very beginning, I was told that Stage-IV cancer is considered manageable but not curable. (Though I still reject the absoluteness of that statement. I know firsthand that anything is possible.) And truthfully, before the scans and biopsies confirmed the reoccurrence, I knew it was back. [Shayna Kaufmann]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shayna Kaufmann, Staff and Bylined Contributors

The birthday I wasn’t sure I’d have: What hope taught me

But about a month later, my (former) oncologist sat across from us and told me, very matter-of-factly, that my prognosis was “about a year.” Google is one thing but hearing this from someone who was looking at my scans and labs was another. I remember watching my husband’s entire body slump and his mouth slightly open in disbelief, as if words eluded him. [Shayna Kaufmann]

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Science, Medicine, & Education, Shayna Kaufmann, Staff and Bylined Contributors

The story my mind forgot to update

For most of my life, if you had asked me to describe myself, I would have said I was a glass-half-empty kind of gal. That story took shape early (of course it did). Like many of us, I had a fun adolescence on the outside and a restless inner world on the inside. I sensed there was more to life than partying, jogging, and getting good grades, but I didn’t know what I was searching for or how to find it. Frankly, I was confused and lonely. [Shayna Kaufmann]

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Opinion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shayna Kaufmann, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Tell People How Much You Appreciate Them, Before It’s Too Late

Each week (or each day if you feel called), think of someone who has impacted your life, in big or small ways. Start with those closest to you. Even when people “know” we appreciate them, it is still deeply nourishing to hear it spoken aloud. [Shayna Kaufmann]

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Lifestyles, San Diego County, Shayna Kaufmann, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Letting Faith Walk Beside Fear 

Fear is a natural response to anything that threatens our safety or sense of security. And it doesn’t have to be as extreme as a life-threatening diagnosis. Fear can arise when we face financial hardships, lose or change jobs, end or deepen a relationship, or let our children follow their own paths rather than ours. In those moments, we can almost feel our illusions of control disintegrate as we step into unchartered territory. [Shayna Kaufmann]

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Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Shayna Kaufmann, Staff and Bylined Contributors

We Are Not Our Stories

Over the course of three days, I sat in silence for long stretches, practicing the art of observing my thoughts without engaging them.  I noticed how often my mind returned to that familiar belief: I have to achieve to be worthy. It’s a story that’s been with me since childhood, that has shaped my choices, driven my ambitions, and insidiously stolen my peace. [Shayna Kaufmann]

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Lifestyles, Shayna Kaufmann, Staff and Bylined Contributors

Public Speaking Book Offers Helpful Philosophy of Life

I originally picked up the book hoping to find a few practical speaking tips to support my growing professional speaking. But what I found instead was something that felt both familiar and profound. With decades of Zen practice behind me, the essence of Glickstein’s message—showing up with presence—felt like coming home. Only this time, applied to the stage. [Shayna Kaufmann, Ph.D.]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Lifestyles, Shayna Kaufmann, Staff and Bylined Contributors