How A Cancer Diagnosis Helped This Baker Transform Her Career -- And Perspective On Life

How A Cancer Diagnosis Helped This Baker Transform Her Career -- And Perspective On Life

Struggles can be transformed into something positive with the right perspective. And that was certainly the case for Kimberly Bailey, whose breast cancer diagnosis ultimately helped her to transform her career and her perspective on life.

Bailey, a baker, joined HuffPost Live host Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani to discuss how she ended up finding the silver lining in her cancer diagnosis.

“I’ve always said that my cancer was the strangest gift that I’ve ever received,” said Bailey. “In fact I got diagnosed right before Christmas, and it was a really good time for reflection.”

She explained that after the initial shock and devastation, something “switched." In the process of accepting the diagnosis, she had an epiphany.

“I found I had a lot of time on my hands and this crazy desire to be creative and get back to my artistic roots,” Bailey said. “I was watching some of the cake shows and I thought, ‘They look like they are having a lot of fun,’ and I started pouring myself into this kind of desire that I had to make cakes.”

Now five years cancer-free and the owner of a successful business, The Butter End Bakery, Bailey has realized that her cancer diagnosis was a catalyst to living a fuller life.

“It’s good to often remind yourself how precious life is,” she said. “You don’t dwell on the cancer but you dwell on living.”

To hear more of the conversation, watch the video above.

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