Niranjala Siriwardena, Cancer Survivor and Former Manager at PwC Australia, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“It’s OKAY to have Cancer. You don’t need to apologise for needing time to heal.
It’s okay to take time off. It’s okay to step back, reset, and breathe. It’s okay to put your health first, before deadlines, titles, and expectations that were never built for real life.
You can still stand up. Even after cancer. Even after workplace challenges. Even after having to represent yourself when systems fall short.
Cancer does NOT erase your capability. Rest does NOT erase your ambition. A pause does NOT erase your worth.
And never be scared to trust your instinct. Trust your gut even when it doesn’t make sense to others. Even when the path feels lonely.
Your instinct will always guide you to where you’re meant to be, to where you belong.
Strength isn’t about pushing through at all costs. Sometimes strength looks like stopping… Recovering… And returning on your terms.
Today, my work lives at the intersection of finance, leadership risk, and lived experience, and workplace cancer survivorship
Because leadership isn’t proven when everything is easy. It’s proven when you refuse to disappear.
If you’re reading this quietly… If you’re scared… If you’re tired… If you feel behind…
You are not weak. You are not broken. You are human. And you are allowed to take the time you need.”
More posts featuring Niranjala Siriwardena.
