I have a friend who is amazing.  She is full of life, grace and light and she has been one of my most inspirational teachers.  She is dying of ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed five years ago at the age of 50 and was doing really well until about a month ago.   Knowing that she had a disease, which had spread at the time of diagnosis, she realized that she was living on borrowed time. She has tried every type of chemotherapy available to her, and she has lived life to the fullest and valued every moment that she has had.

She has given all those around her perspective about life. When my parents and grandparents used to say that our greatest gift is our health, I now know what they meant. My friend has shown me that.  She has taken great care of herself with healthy eating, exercise, meditation and lots and lots of love and laughter. And, she does not let little things bother her. She lives each day as if it were her last.

She is a reminder that we need to appreciate all that we have and not take our health for granted.  It is the most important thing for all of us. None of us know what is waiting around the corner.  What we can do is really listen when our practitioners provide suggestions on how to improve our health and lifestyle choices. It is important to take the advice instead of giving excuses for bad behavior.  Wellness is all about healthy eating and exercise. This is a concept that seems to elude many.   I am continually striving to help patients find the connection between their choices and behaviors and how they feel.  It isn’t easy but when it happens it is wonderful to watch.

Regardless of how much money you make, how old you are, what you think of your wrinkles or the state of your body, if you are healthy you are rich. Recently, someone was bemoaning the fact that she was turning 60 years of age; my friend told her that she would love to be able to get to 60. That would be an incredible gift.  Unfortunately she will not get there.

However, her legacy is the lesson on how to embrace life and not sweat the small stuff.  We are here and we are lucky to be able to enjoy life and make the most of it.  It is never too late to do what we need to do to be healthy.  Life is short. The time is now; just do it!