5.) A quote you saw on Pinterest that inspired you.
“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”
I might be one of the ten people who have never read or seen Les Miserables, but when I saw the quote pictured above on Pinterest it immediately made me think of my Mom. After losing a second husband to cancer I remember talking to her once about how if it had happened to me I would never get out of bed, or marry again, or do anything again EVER.
She looked at me thoughtfully and said something like, “You know, it’s easy for us to say what we think we would do or what we imagine it would be like if tragedy were to strike us, but we really don’t know. You might think you would just curl up in bed for weeks on end, but your bed gets uncomfortable (as un-poetic as that sounds). You’ll want to get up and stretch your legs, the sun keeps coming up, the world keeps turning and as much as you might wish otherwise, you still need to exist in it.”
I remember looking around after my step-dad Bob died thinking, “Wow…so you people are still walking around like lives were not just destroyed? Just another day.” It’s surreal when you’re caught in that kind of grief, but you do continue walking through it. The sun does rise. I wouldn’t be doing my Dads any favors by choosing to wallow in darkness forever.
When one of my best friends Teresa received news that her fiance Luke had been diagnosed with cancer I watched her fight for him. It was a familiar sight, although I’ll admit I felt lost not knowing what I could do for them. People often assume I’d be a great shoulder to lean on when cancer strikes, but having lost two Dads, I’m a terrible example. We’re all helpless. Completely at the mercy of that disease and the treatments available for it. I’m so thankful we have amazing doctors and researchers and scientists working to eradicate cancer. Without them my dear friend’s husband most certainly would not be here today. He’s currently five years cancer free and they’re building a beautiful family.
Last week I shared information on what the Light the Night Walk is all about, an event that has partnered with Burlington as the #1 Light The Night National Partner since 2003, raising more than $16 million to help fund cancer treatments and lifesaving research!
I’ll happily be walking along side Teresa this September at our local Light The Night Walk. We will continue to put one foot in front of the other to raise money and advocate for lifesaving treatments and cancer research. Wouldn’t it be great if cancer would stop causing some of those darkest nights?
I hope you’ll join me and consider registering for a Light The Night event at a city near you!