2007 was a big year for Kim Tinkham - in February she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, in March she appeared on Oprah to discuss her decision to treat cancer by alternative means and in November she found out the cancer was gone.

Along with these big events, Tinkham also experienced a lifestyle change. She has dramatically revised her diet and her working routine. She has found ways to better handle stress and express emotions.

While these experiences may have been difficult, they all added up to her main goal of 2007 - get to know Kim better.

"This year (2007) was great for me - what better way to get to know yourself than get cancer," Tinkham said. "You can always get to know yourself better."

As for 2008, Tinkham has laid out three main goals for herself, as well as a few items on her to-do-list.

"My first goal is to love myself more. I think a lot of people think that loving yourself is selfish," Tinkham said. "The amazing thing I learned in 2007 that will help me in 2008 is that you have to realize that you are the sky, not the clouds. The clouds are the events and people that come into our life - we're the sky. You have the capability of doing anything and everything. You can sit and watch the clouds go by. Be the watcher and see what happens. So many feel like we need so much control - control causes stress."

Tinkham's second goal works hand-in-hand with her first goal - love others more.

"I can't do that without loving myself more. I also means I can't give advice - I'm bad about that," Tinkham said.

Her third goal comes with a long list of supporting items, including a book and support group.

"I want to be a positive spokesperson for living a balanced life," Tinkham said, referring to the protocol that has allowed her to have an alkaline body. "I am currently working on my book, "Cancer Angel." It's a fictional take on my true story. I also want to start a support group for people who've been diagnosed with cancer, or really any disease."

Tinkham hopes to have times and dates scheduled at the Decatur Public Library and invites those who want to talk about their disease to come.

"It will be very informal. It's going to let people vent," Tinkham said.

Throughout the year, Tinkham will look at her decisions and make sure they are contributing to one or all of her three goals.

"Everything I do I will put up against those goals," Tinkham said. "If they don't match that, I'm not going to do it. It's not important."