So, the exciting events of the Tokyo Olympics are behind us and can no longer provide the escape we all needed from the bewildering news we hear on a daily basis. And now that the story of the incredible gymnast Simone Biles’ withdrawal from most of the events is not the jaw-dropping news it was just a few weeks ago, I wanted to highlight one other amazing athlete.

For those of you who are old enough to remember the fabulous gymnast Shannon Miller, the 7-time medalist from the 1996 Olympics, she has a lot to teach us about how the discipline of gymnastics carried her through a very scary rough patch in her life. As she tells it, back in 2010, Shannon was feeling great when she walked into her doctor’s office for a routine appointment, only to be told within 15 minutes that they had discovered a baseball-sized mass on her left ovary. She was stunned. How could she have missed the signs?

As it turned out, she had ovarian cancer, and she admitted that she didn’t recognize three of the symptoms that she was having: bloating, severe stomach aches, and weight loss. But as she explains it, she used some of the lessons that she had learned throughout her gymnastics career to help her approach the ensuing treatment: visualization, goal setting, and teamwork.

Indeed, she reminded herself that she could wake up each day and have control over something, no matter how small it was. And she knew that, just like in gymnastics, there would be good days and bad days. But the mantra remained the same: “You fall nine times, you get up 10.”

As I read more about her story, I was struck once again with the importance of charting your menstrual cycle to help you stay on top of all facets of your health. And while it’s true that you ultimately chart your waking temperature and cervical fluid for a window into your fertility status, just the process alone is enough to make you exquisitely aware of all types of symptoms your body provides you, once again allowing you to act as your own best health advocate.