Choosing to live.

Yesterday, March 1st, was a day I celebrate every year. It’s the day that reminds me to not take life for granted. It’s the day that puts things into perspective. It’s the day that makes me feel more grateful and alive than any other day. 

It’s the day I celebrate another year of being cancer-free, and this year just so happens to be year 4!

While it seems like a lifetime ago, it wasn’t all that long ago that I felt extremely lost, defeated, and perpetually sick. I felt like I was the victim of my own life. Sometimes it felt like it would be easier to let the disease take over.  A lot of you reading this likely know the feeling, but perhaps you don’t. And if you don’t, I hope you never do. 

March 1st, 2016 was the day that saved my life. It was the day I was diagnosed with cancer. It’s the day I woke up from being the victim and chose to live my life differently. It will always be the reason I do the things I do.

Since then, I made a promise to myself to celebrate life every March. This is a promise I will never break, no matter how hard it may be or what obstacles I have to climb over. This promise to myself means something that I can’t quite put into words. 

 Each year I do what inspires me most and travel to a new country. Traveling is something that brings me a lot of perspective, growth, and balance. This year I am headed to Copenhagen, Iceland, and Amsterdam. Copenhagen and Iceland are both new adventures and Amsterdam is my home away from home after living there in college and meeting my Dutch family : )

As I sit on the airplane and reflect on all of the things (literally – all of the things), I can’t help but think about how much has changed since I learned to value life. I feel really grateful for all of the people who have come into my life in the past year, and all of the experiences that continue to remind me just how much life is meant to be lived. I am proud of my past, grateful for my present, and excited for my future. 

My wish for anyone and everyone is that we all, as humans, take a moment to pause and gain some perspective around just how much of a gift each and every day is. I hope you know that not everyone gets a tomorrow – and if you do, I hope you live it with passion and purpose, because anything less than that is simply a waste. 

Cheers to another day, friends! I’m off to celebrate : )

Xo, 

Emma