Many years ago a friend of mine died of breast cancer. She was only thirty. When she passed, it crushed me. How was it possible that this young, vibrant soul was gone? It might have hit me hard too as I was only weeks away from celebrating my own thirtieth birthday. I was also 32 weeks pregnant. . When word came that she was gone, something shifted in me. I was about to start this new chapter in my life, but I questioned if I appreciated it enough. If I truly recognized the blessings I’d been given. . Fast forward to 5 years later. This time it wasn’t a friend struggling, but my beloved sister. Sadly, it was a familiar enemy: breast cancer. This time I didn’t forget that sick feeling. I held onto it. Bathed in it. Wondered what I could learn, because obviously the universe was telling me something. . The next day I pulled out an old journal and wrote down one goal: write a book. It was a dream I chased for the next several years through another milestone birthday and beyond. . People told me I was too old for that dream. That only young writers got book deals. NOT TRUE. My debut year, I celebrated with other authors whose ages ranged from twenty to sixty years old. . Today, I’ll blow out 50 candles on my birthday cake. My friend has been gone twenty long years. I often wonder about her, of the concept of grace, and what comes after this life. I think about what her passing and what my sister’s illness, and recovery, has taught me about this world. . Here’s what I’ve learned so far… Don’t wait for someone’s permission, or the perfect time, to chase what makes you happy. Revel in the quiet moments. Laugh when your child sings off key, but with abandon, in the shower. Dance with your spouse to some cheesy song when you’re cleaning the kitchen. Roar with every fiber of your soul as you’re cheering on your child in their favorite sport. . Take every moment to laugh, dance, & cheer. This life is a gift, and it’s meant to be celebrated every single day. . . . #grateful #writinglife #writingcommunity #yawriterofinstagram #writersofinstagram #historicalwriter #yawriter #yahistorical #yawritingcommunity #birthday #celebrate #igauthor #igauthorlife https://www.instagram.com/p/CE10UxRg9yI/?igshid=1vlhh43vaecwi