Live

Two years ago, my friend Kelly shared these words with me. At the time, they felt like a reminder to live fully, to take chances, to say yes to life, and to not spend my days simply existing.
Today, I read them differently.
Kelly was so prophetic. She died in 2025 and yet somehow, she is still teaching me. Encouraging me to “do the next right thing…”
She taught me that life is not measured by the number of years we are given but by how deeply we love, how fiercely we show up, and how willing we are to embrace the messy, beautiful, uncertain parts of being human.
When I think of Kelly, I don’t think of someone who died slowly. I think of someone who lived. Someone who laughed, loved, cared deeply, and left fingerprints on the hearts of the people lucky enough to know her.
There are days I still want to pick up the phone and tell her something. Days something happens and I think, “I can’t wait to tell Kelly.” Days when I desperately need her wisdom (and humor). Days when I miss her so deeply it catches me off guard.
But then I remember that the people we love never really stop teaching us. Their lessons live on in the choices we make, the risks we take, the kindness we offer, and the way we continue forward carrying a piece of them with us.
So today, as I share these words again, I am thinking of Kelly.
Thank you, my friend, for the reminder to live now. To be curious. To be brave. To wear the bright colors. To chase the dream. To choose joy when I can. Thank you again for the stark reminder to live my life now. I do not want to die slowly. I want to go out kicking and screaming in a cloud of glitter with the devil chasing me down!
I miss you deeply. And am forever grateful that you are still teaching me.
Love your people….. and live every day.

You start dying slowly ;
if you do not travel,
if you do not read,
If you do not listen to the sounds of life,
If you do not appreciate yourself.
You start dying slowly :
When you kill your self-esteem,
You start dying slowly ;
If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same paths…
If you do not change your routine,
If you do not wear different colours
Or you do not speak to those you don’t know.
You start dying slowly :
If you avoid to feel passion
And their turbulent emotions;
Those which make your eyes glisten
And your heart beat fast.
You start dying slowly :
If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain
If you do not go after a dream
If you do not allow yourself
At least once in your lifetime
To run away from sensible advice
Don’t let yourself die slowly
Do not forget to be happy!

Pablo Neruda
Chilean poet who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971