The Rewrite: Kourtney Zwierlein

“I am large, I contain multitudes.” Walt Whitman famously used that line in “Song of Myself” and it’s so apt for our Hundred honorees. 

What was true for Whitman all the way back in 1855 is true for us today. We're always changing and growing and broadening your perspective in every passing moment.

So that’s why we’re introducing Rewrite: an opportunity for honorees to look back at their Hundred interview and tell us what’s changed. 

Did you have a mindset shift? An experience that opened your heart to a new reality? An epiphany that can only come with life lived?

A couple years after Kourtney Zwierlein's original interview published, she took a moment to reflect on what's changed in her life:

On my way to my headshot session for my Hundred episode, I was receiving my breast cancer diagnosis. Looking back, I realize there are certain events in life that transform us. We enter them with one perspective, one identity, one set of priorities, and we emerge almost as a different person.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, my prayer was simple: God, I don't understand this, but please use it for Your good, because I can't understand it any other way.

During the many days I spent sitting in chemotherapy rooms, surrounded by other cancer patients, something began to shift within me. I developed a deeper level of empathy for others. I gained a clearer understanding of what truly matters in life. And I was forced to take an honest look at how I wanted to spend the rest of my time here.

Cancer gave me a beautiful gift of perspective that I hope I never lose.

It allowed me to prioritize my family and myself in ways I hadn't before. It gave me the courage to walk away from a job that I knew was no longer serving my best interests and led me to a new role where I can be a blessing to both my fellow caregivers and the patients who walk through our doors each day.

It also taught me to find joy in the ordinary. The mundane days, which once seemed insignificant, now feel like some of the best days. I have a greater appreciation for sunsets and a willingness to stop and watch them instead of rushing past while worrying about everything else on my mind.

What I once viewed as an unimaginable hardship became an unexpected reset. While I would never have chosen this journey, it changed me in ways I am deeply grateful for. It reminded me to live with intention, to cherish the people I love, and to recognize the beauty hidden within everyday moments.

Breast cancer is something I would never wish on anyone. The struggles never fully leave, and there are moments when the worry quietly creeps back in, bringing fears of recurrence and uncertainties about the future. Yet it is also a club of incredibly resilient women who understand these feelings without needing them explained. We hold onto one another's stories, celebrate each victory, and cling to the hope of tomorrow. Breast cancer gave me many challenges, but it also gave me the gift of perspective, and that is a gift I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life.

Thank you, Kourtney, for updating us! We’re honored to share your story.