April 7th. A date I hold close to my heart, not because it marks a finality, but because it marks a beginning. It is Marybel’s birthday.
Marybel wasn’t just my sister-in-law; she was my dearest friend, my fellow warrior, and I loved her like a sister. When I think of her, I don’t just think of the bravery she showed in her fight. Instead, I think of her in full, vibrant color. I think of the way she devoured life; the infectious, room-filling sound of her laugh, the way she would scream with pure joy during a Liverpool match, and the quiet, focused peace she found when she was painting or drawing. She was an artist in every sense—she poured her heart into the people around her and the world she created.
We walked the cancer path together, and she was my point of reference when everything felt like it was falling apart. She was the one who taught me that even in the middle of a storm, you are allowed to be human. She didn’t just survive; she lived.
Whatever she did, she did with a raw, unmistakable zest for life. Whether she was teaching, cooking one of her delicious meals, hunting for mushrooms in the woods, or hiking and riding her bike through nature, she was fully there. She found her strength in yoga, meditation and spending time in nature, and she brought that same presence to everything she did and every person she spent her time with—her students, her friends, her family, and the nieces and nephews she adored.
She lived and breathed the philosophy of being present, knowing better than anyone that the “now” is the only thing we are ever truly promised.
After she passed, I made sure that her greatest lesson would never leave me. I had the words “Live in the moment” tattooed on my arm—a permanent reminder of her warmth, her smile, and the way she held on to life with both hands. Every time I look down, I am reminded that even on the hardest days, there is beauty to be found if you are brave enough to notice it.
I carry this reminder for myself, but I also carry it for all of you. If you’re searching for an anchor today, I’d love for you to share in this mantra that Marybel lived so beautifully:
Live in the moment. Live fiercely. Love fiercely.
We only have this moment, right here and right now. Let’s choose to make it count.
Today, in honor of Marybel’s birthday, I am choosing to make it count by taking time to be fully present with my loved ones and friends. I’m putting my phone away to be there—body, mind, and spirit—with the people who mean the most to me. I invite you to do the same.
Happy Birthday, my dear sister. I am carrying your zest with me, always. đź’—
Courageously yours,
Aurora
Because courage doesn’t always mean being strong, but having the heart to live fiercely and love fiercely in this very moment — and that’s okay.