A friend and former colleague passed away yesterday after a 5 year battle with cancer. She was a phenomenal teacher and a wonderful person. We were texting buddies over the last few years since her cancer battle began around the same time that I needed to resign from my teaching position.
I won’t be able to adequately express what she meant to so many people, but what I will say is that she was a huge inspiration to every person who knew her. She was beloved by her family, friends, students, and colleagues.
In the last few months, we had been texting even more than we had previously. Our health journeys were not the same, but we could relate to so many of each other’s joys and challenges. During one of our text conversations, I told her that every time I think about shutting down the blog, I think about how much her story has impacted my life, and so I keep writing in the hopes of helping someone else feel less alone. She encouraged me to keep writing for many reasons, but especially “for all of us whose bodies don’t work ‘normally’.”
So, I will let myself feel the sadness of losing such an impactful person, but I will also write this post in her honor. Thank you for being you! Thank you for showing us how to live! Thank you for inspiring us to keep going through life’s challenges. Thank you for reminding us of the joy all around us. I hope to one day be even 1% as inspirational as you have been to all those who knew you!
Brutal. The passing of people who leave a mark on this world.
Beautiful. Life. Love. Finding joy. Connecting with others. Empathy. Crossing paths with people who leave a mark on this world.
Just another day of . . . This Brutiful Life: The Brutal & Beautiful Moments of My Life.
This Brutiful Life 