Years before my lung cancer diagnosis and treatment, I went to an event for Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar, the teacher credited with bringing yoga to the West.

Many people spoke about how Iyengar yoga had saved their lives, carried them through sobriety, healed sadness, and helped them recover from illness. The testimonials were profuse.

One woman’s story I never forgot: She had an unnamed debilitating disease that left her bedridden for a year. During that time, she found a way to do a few poses, stretches, and breath work. Finally she was ready to get out of bed and start walking. She was weak — but determined to gain strength.

“I could walk to the corner store, but I only had strength to carry one potato,” she said. “So I carried one potato home, and the next day I would carry on another potato, and so on.”

This story haunted me. I couldn’t imagine having the ability to carry only one potato at a time, much less the perseverance to perform this humble show of strength over and over again.

Now, after a stage 3 lung cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy, surgery, more chemo, and simultaneous radiation, I get it. Even years later, I’m often reminded of my own private Idaho.

I have days that I can carry a whole sack of potatoes, and the next day I can carry only one. Sometimes a whole week goes by and I’ve carried a sack of potatoes every day, happily and consistently, and then I’m down to one potato at a time again.

By potatoes, I mean almost anything: work hours, emotional moments, mental focus, social commitments, exercise, mommy-ing, wife-ing, anything-ing.

There’s a narrow lens through which I now see the world. Most of the time, I‘m grateful beyond belief, considering I was given an initial diagnosis of two years to live. But recently I found myself complaining about the weather because one step out the door and my hair frizzes up. I had to stop myself and say, “Hey! I’m just damned lucky to even have hair and even consider this a problem!”

What’s your potato? When is your one potato, two potato, three potato, no more? When do you add a potato? When do you lessen your potato load?

Potato schlepping is not a crime — we all need to set our limits. And should you think your potato isn’t enough, remember that a potato has many virtues:

• Only 110 calories

• No fat, sodium, or cholesterol

• Nearly half your daily value of vitamin C

• More potassium than a banana

• Vitamin B6, magnesium, and antioxidants

• Fiber and resistant starch

Some days are better than others. Sometimes I feel fried, mashed, and lumpy. Most days, I am filled with gratitude and realize frizzy hair is a luxury … a lot like gravy.

MyLungCancerTeam columnists discuss lung cancer from a specific point of view. Columnists’ articles don’t reflect the opinions of MyLungCancerTeam staff, medical experts, partners, advertisers, or sponsors. MyLungCancerTeam content isn’t intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.