Live Like You Were Dying – performed by Tim McGraw. It’s a song I listen to often. Not that I think I am going to die tomorrow, but I learned through my cancer diagnosis that tomorrow is not promised. We must live for today and enjoy each day. We must love like it is our first love, accept others and forgive, occasionally act like a child, and take chances. The blogs on this site will touch on those subjects, and much more!

After I finished my cancer treatments I wrote a list of places I want to visit and things I want to do in life. I would not call it a bucket list because I feel that is negative. But instead, it is a “life list.” Many of the items on my list are: (1) starting a nonprofit that supports breast cancer patients (2) start a business (3) volunteer (4) visit Hawaii and Africa (5) write a book. So far, I have accomplished many of the items on my life list.

Over a year ago, I decided to start a nonprofit to help breast cancer patients. My husband came up with the name, Jill’s Jugs™ . What was originally an idea turned into something special and great. We now have a website and provide support bags to cancer patients. This nonprofit has given me a purpose and helped me turn my cancer into something positive and beautiful. Live to help others!

Around this time last year we traveled to Maui, Hawaii. I have always wanted to go to Hawaii. It was always just a dream to visit Hawaii, but last year we decided to make it a reality. What is holding us back? I asked myself this simple question: if I were to die tomorrow would I regret not traveling to Hawaii. The answer was yes! So, we booked the flights and hotel. It turned out to be the best decision we made last year. We hiked through the rainforest. Even my daughter hiked!! I jumped off a cliff into the spring water. We sailed at sunset. My daughter danced at a luau. It was great! But more importantly we made memories. Memories my family will never forget. My daughter will look back and never forget this trip. Live to travel!

Last year I decided to take a chance and write a children’s book. One day last year, my daughter said to me “it’s okay if your mommy changes you still love her.” I immediately knew this was my opportunity to begin writing my book titled It’s Okay if My Mommy Changes I Still Love Her. It took longer for me to publish the book than to write the book. The book is written from a child’s perspective and is my daughter speaking to other children about the changes she witnessed in me during the last two years while I was recovering from cancer treatments and surgery. It is a book meant to help other families explain cancer to young children and to give them hope. This book has become my passion! Live to tell your story!

Just the other day I took my daughter to a trampoline jump place. At first, I was not going to jump but she convinced me otherwise. We jumped and played games. It was fun! I felt like I was 7 years old again. Except my body does not feel like a 7-year-old. I am sore today and clearly, I pushed my body to its limit. However, the most memorable moment was when I did the trapeze. It was not a graceful fall! But it is something I can look back and laugh about! Live like your 7 years old again!

The point of this blog is to inspire you to create your own “life list,” and to start living like you are dying. Take chances, fall in love, help others, travel to places you have never been, make memories, find your life purpose!

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