Earlier this week, I was notified of a friend’s passing. Cassy was living with cancer for the past couple of years. We would get together at my house, exchange Reiki and have deep, meaningful conversations about life. She would share her emotional ups and downs about her experience, and I would offer her a safe space to share those feelings.

A couple of weeks prior, my Reiki Master-Teacher called and asked if I could pitch-hit at the Reiki clinic for her that evening because she wanted to be with Cassy. My Sensei (Japanese for teacher, and my term of endearment for my Teacher) told me that it seemed Cassy would be making her transition soon, and she wanted to be present if and when she did. She also shared with me that Cassy’s friends were trying to make one of her life’s dreams a reality. Cassy always wanted to go to Paris, and her friends were galvanizing efforts to make that happen. But Cassy had to hold on; she couldn’t leave this world just yet.

Unfortunately, I had a prior commitment (my brother was returning from Belize, and I was picking him up at the airport), so I couldn’t take on the clinic that night. It didn’t matter; Cassy held on and didn’t make her transition at the time.

When I got the message of Cassy’s passing, I went to her page on Facebook. It was there, amid all the posts from people mourning her, that I got to see wonderful photos of Cassy in Paris. She held on long enough to make her lifelong dream a reality. And I had a moment. Not one of loss, but one of happiness, that she chose to remain in this world long enough for her to realize one of her dreams. I was in awe. I was inspired.

Cassy would sit with me and ask how my business was going. She was all for it. She would listen to me talk about the emotional ups and downs of starting a business, the things that coaches, mentors, leaders, and gurus don’t talk about, instead opting for the tips, tricks, and techniques. She would listen as I shared the frustrations of not having business coming in, of the financial struggles, and of wondering whether I made a mistake and needed to just go back to the working world and get a job. And, like I did for her, she would offer the safe space I needed to share those feelings.

This morning, as I thought about Cassy, I realized that she had given me such a gift in her experience. She was determined not to leave this world until she saw Paris. The cancer woke her up. If Paris was going to happen, it would have to happen now.

We all know the saying “Tomorrow is not promised to any of us.” Also “to live each day as if it were your last.” And as I thought on those words of wisdom, and Cassy, what I realized is that the dream of having my own business and doing the work I love to do is my Paris. If I were to leave this world tomorrow, I could do so knowing that I got to go to Paris.

We create all sorts of reasons as to why we wait to do things. We say, “I’ll be able to do that when….” I call this living a lay-a-way life. But this week, Cassy reminded me that some things we may need to “bite the bullet” or “take the leap” and just do it.

It may seem morbid, but consider this question: If you found out today was your last day on the planet, what would you do? Maybe today is the day to just do it.

Or maybe this one: What is your Paris?

Thank you, Cassy, for allowing me to share my Paris with you.

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