My cancer treatment steroids give me crazy insomnia so I woke up at 3:30 this morning. Instead of the typical online shopping routine for the sake of my bank account, I channeled a wannabe VSCO girl and created this little collage.

If this year has taught me anything, it’s that life is too dang short.

This crap year feels like a blur. I’ve missed out on so much. With a worldwide pandemic happening, most of us feel that way, but with a suppressed immune system from chemotherapy, I’ve especially had to live in a bubble with little to no exposure to other people. Life is still happening around me. Several of my friends are getting engaged, having babies, and celebrating milestones and I could not be happier for them. I wish I could give hugs, jump for joy and just be around them.

My godfather passed away a couple of weeks ago, as if this year couldn’t get any worse. I know he knows how much I loved and admired the incredible man he was and how lucky I felt to be his goddaughter, but I wish I had told him more. I encourage you to share with your loved ones how you feel before you don’t have the chance to. Life can change in an instant.

I could not have gotten through this year without the support of dear friends from all over the world. Simple texts, funny TikToks, snail mail, sweet DMs, flower deliveries, FaceTimes and phone calls have kept me going.

I thank my lucky stars for all the memories and laughs I’ve shared with so many good friends over the years. I know that I’m going to beat this cancer and can’t even let myself think otherwise but I also know I’ve lived a full life thus far and am blessed to have had such beautiful experiences in just 32 short years. But don’t worry, I plan on filling my life with many many more.

Best friends make good times better and hard times easier.

So friends (you know who you are), aloha nui loa. You are everything to me. Life is about connection and relationships and somehow I hit the jackpot with all of you.

ILYSM