Since June 12, 2012 I’ve woken up everyday fueled by one main emotion, hope. That was the day that we learned that my youngest (4 years old at the time) had leukemia.
News like that changes your outlook on life.
How hope changes your outlook
I wake up everyday hoping that it’s a healthy day. I hope for a cure to end all cancers. I hope for a long life for my son and with the rest of my family.
When I’m able to take my son on vacation, it has more meaning for me. I don’t take that time for granted.
I also appreciate deeply the fact that I can still travel on my own.
Why? I travel for more reasons than just the sake of seeing a new place. Travel inspires me creatively and refreshes me mentally.
For a brief amount of time in the beginning of our journey, I thought traveling (with and without my kids) was over. It was hope that saw me through and gave me the energy to keep going. Hope is the energy that fuels all of us to keep fighting.
In the end, hope provides more meaning to life.
Why am I sharing this?
At the turn of this new year I made a deal with myself to not be so singular in my blog posts. In an effort to educate, inspire and motivate, I made the decision to talk about more than just travel.
When the opportunity to write about the principle of hope as a part of a campaign promoting T.A. Baron’s new book, “The Wisdom of Merlin: A Guide to a Meaningful Life” came up, I jumped on it.
Call it serendipity.
I’ve been blessed by kind words from dozens of moms telling me that I inspire them. That means a lot to me. It helps me to stay positive and hopeful through this journey for which I’ve been chosen.
I’ll continue to share upbeat posts, inspirational messages, smiley pictures and just about anything that emanates light. Most of all I’ll continue to let hope lead the way.
This post was sponsored by author T. A. Barron and was inspired by his upcoming gift book “The Wisdom of Merlin: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life.” This book is the wizard Merlin’s answer to the question “What is the meaning of life?” Surprisingly, the answer has only seven words — including hope. But they are the most powerful words of all. The Wisdom of Merlin is available for preorder now, and will be available wherever books are sold on March 23, 2015.
I’ve followed your writing but didn’t know your story, so I’m so sorry to learn that you have had to face the beast that is childhood cancer. I hope your son is done treatment and in remission. My best friend’s daughter went through that battle starting when she was 2.5 and watching the struggle up close makes me so hyperaware on how difficult the journey is on the whole family.
Thank you so much Tamara for your comment. We have a little less than a year of treatment left to go, God willing. It’s a journey but we live our life fueled by faith and hope.