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“Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.” – Jim Rohn 

Just as Jim Rohn – businessman, self-made millionaire, author, and motivational speaker – inspires Maselino Tiani, she manages to inspire the people around her. 

Maselino did not stand back in the face of adversity, but she continued to live life to the fullest.

Maselino is a part-time planning consultant and Spatial Planning honours student working on her master’s degree in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of the Free State (UFS). 

Making wise decisions
Diagnosed with breast cancer just before a very busy block week in June last year, Maselino continued with her studies and assignments after having surgery and while undergoing radiation treatment. Recovering after her surgery in the hospital, she requested her family to bring her laptop so that she could work on assignments. 

Maselino shares part of her journey: “I finished treatment on 21 September 2019 and flew off to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to visit family the following day. Earlier in May, I had booked flights to Germany for wellness-coaching training. I knew Germany would take a toll on my body and decided to reschedule my visit to the UAE to rest, away from my usual environment. I spent most of that time completing my assignments. On coming back home, it was almost time for my final block week in October.”

All about your attitude
Maselino says her studies was the best thing that happened to her last year. When advised to carry on with her life as usual, she took the counsel seriously. “I had no time to think about the diagnosis. I was too busy to worry,” she states.

But what ultimately kept her going was prayer and the tremendous support of her family, friends, lecturers and colleagues. 

She adds: “My mother has always inspired me to work hard and make the best of every situation. And I have learnt that in life, it is all about your attitude, how you respond to things that happen to you.”

Today, Maselino is well. “All I can say is that we serve a miracle-working God,” she says. 

For others who are going through a difficult time, Maselino wishes to bring comfort with the following message: “Life is what you make of it. We will meet different life challenges. But you have a choice in life as to how you will respond. Rise above your challenges. Do not magnify your problems by giving them unnecessary attention. If you do not give attention to that which requires your attention, it will lose its power over you. Nothing is impossible with God. Whatever mountain you meet in life, God is able to move that mountain.”