Waking Up to Win: Why I’m Excited for Tomorrow

May 18, 2026•5 min read

Waking Up to Win: Why My Tomorrow is Worth Every Single Fight)

Most of you know my medical history, and you might be thinking... how? How can someone who has been through two types of cancer, a kidney transplant, a brain surgery, and a cardiac arrest actually be excited for tomorrow? How is it possible to look at a calendar and see opportunity instead of an upcoming appointment or another potential "episode"?

I get it. When you’ve spent a significant portion of your life in a hospital bed, "tomorrow" can be a scary concept. In a ward, tomorrow often means more blood tests, more "clinical" conversations, and more waiting for results. But I’m here to tell you that the struggles you are facing today don't have to be the shadow that dims your future. In fact, they can be the very reason your tomorrow shines brighter.

The Science of Anticipatory Joy

Positivity isn't just a "vibe", it’s a cognitive tool. From an educational perspective, when we allow ourselves to be excited for tomorrow, we are tapping into what psychologists call Anticipatory Joy.

When you look forward to something, even something as small as a morning coffee or a walk with the dog, your brain releases dopamine. This isn't just a "feel-good" chemical; it’s a motivation molecule. It signals to your body that there is a reward coming, which helps regulate your nervous system and lower your stress levels. By being excited for tomorrow, you are literally giving your body the "medicine" it needs to handle the struggles of today.

Positivity vs. Toxic Positivity

I want to be very clear: being excited for tomorrow doesn't mean ignoring the fact that today might be absolute rubbish.

As I always say, being positive doesn't mean that everything’s good; it’s the ability to see the good in everything. * Toxic Positivity tells you to "just smile" while your house is on fire.

Authentic Positivity (the "In Control" version) acknowledges the fire, grabs the extinguisher, and then starts planning the house-warming party for the rebuild

I’ve had days where my body felt like it was failing me, where the pain was so loud I couldn't hear my own thoughts. On those days, my "excitement" for tomorrow was simply the knowledge that I’d have another shot at feeling better. It’s about finding the smallest possible win and anchoring your future to it.

Why My Struggles Fueled My Zest

When you’ve nearly been "f’n dead" as many times as I have, you stop taking the sunrise for granted. I think of my medical history as a series of "upgrades." Every time I rose like a Phoenix from a sepsis-induced coma or a cardiac arrest, I came back with a sharper perspective.

I’m excited for tomorrow because I know exactly what it’s like to have the "option" of a tomorrow almost taken away.

I’m excited to wake up in my own bed instead of a hospital ward.
I’m excited to hear Banjo barking because it means I’m home to hear him.
I’m excited for the "boring" stuff, the emails, the errands, the Macca’s runs, because "boring" is a luxury that "critically ill" people don't get to have.

How to Find Your "Tomorrow" Spark

If you are currently in the thick of a struggle, be it health, financial, or personal, and you can't find a reason to be excited, try these three "In Control" shifts:

Audit Your First Thought: When you wake up, what’s the first thing you say to yourself? If it’s "Oh no, another day," you’ve already lost the morning. Try replacing it with, "I’m here, I’m alive, and I’m ready for whatever comes."
Plan One "Non-Negotiable" Joy: Every evening, decide on one thing you are going to enjoy tomorrow. It doesn't have to be a party. It could be wearing your favourite trackies, calling a mate, or watching a sunset. Make that your "landmark in the sand."
Reframing the "Shoulds": Stop saying, "I should be doing more." Start saying, "I get the chance to try again tomorrow." "Should" is a burden; "Get to" is a gift.

The View From the Driver’s Seat

I’m 32 years old, and I firmly believe that the best days of my life haven't even happened yet. My diagnosis might live beside me, but it doesn't tell me how to feel about my future.

I’ve had ten life-threatening conditions, and yet, here I am, typing this, smiling, and genuinely wondering what amazing thing is going to happen next. If a "cat with ten lives" can find a reason to be excited, I promise you can too.

Tomorrow isn't just another day on the calendar; it’s your next opportunity to prove the statistics wrong. It’s your next chance to be the narrator of your story. So, have your moment, cry if you need to, process the struggle, but then, look at the horizon and get excited.

Everything always works out in the end, and I can't wait for you to see how your "tomorrow" turns out.

Don’t Just Survive Tomorrow, Own It

If you are waking up feeling like you’re already behind, or if your struggles are making "tomorrow" feel like a threat, let’s flip the script together: