"I'm gonna Love You, like I'm gonna Lose You"

Reigniting Your Spirit: Embrace Love, Connection, and Change

This morning I have a stack of cards next to me. Two are sympathy cards that will be sent to dear friends who recently lost a parent. One is for my nephew and his partner celebrating the birth of their new baby boy and another to a friend expecting a long waited for baby in July. Three are designated to people I love who are finding life a bit challenging in the moment. And the final one is for my partner to thank him for his dedication to our relationship. I collect these events until a day I can focus on acknowledging all these life happenings. Every single time this accumulation of life events and writing practice reminds me it’s essential to acknowledge the fragility of time and the importance of nurturing our beloved relationships.

Serendipitously, on my morning walk with Bodhi, Meghan Trainor and John Legend’s poignant track "Like I'm Gonna Lose You" evoked some raw emotion that I brought into the task of my letter writing. If you haven’t had the chance, take a moment to listen to it now. It’s like a refreshing splash of ice-cold water, forcing us to confront the fact that we often take our loved ones – and ourselves – for granted.

This post is an attempt to break that cycle. Are you ready?

Cherishing the Ones You Love
Who in your life deserves a little more of your undivided attention? Whether it’s your children, parents, friends, or that special someone, they all crave your presence. Life gets busy, and sometimes we forget that it only takes ten meaningful minutes of connection. Seriously, ten minutes of focused, undivided attention. I learned this from an article I read years ago when my sons were young and my modus operandi was multi-tasking. It was a game changer. By dedicating even such a short span to someone you care about, you can rekindle those precious bonds. Create your own “special time” and prioritize connection amid the chaos.

For partners and loved ones, the intimacy of your relationship can often weaken amidst daily distractions. A simple call or a longer kiss can remind them that they are cherished. Make the effort to really show up – unplug and connect.

And don't let distance erode your relationships with friends and family. Instead of sending a quick social media message, reach out in a heartfelt way. Pick up the phone, write a letter, or drop by with coffee. Your authentic connection could mean the world to someone.

Investing in Yourself First
Listen to Megan Trainor and John Legend again, this time as a love song to yourself. Can you hear it as a beautiful reminder to love and nurture yourself? I am a self-leadership life coach for cancer survivors as well as those who have “Type C” behavioral patterns such as people pleasing, emotional suppression, and conflict resistance. These patterns are known to make us prone to immune disease, including cancer. My work with people includes helping them learn to fall in love with themselves every single day. A practice I myself had to learn after a lifetime of living from the outside in. I am inspired by Dr. Kelly Turner and her book "Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds". Her research offers nine different ways to help us heal ourselves, to love ourselves, and not take for granted the choices we have to make our trajectory a positive one.

My invitation to you is to pick one from the list below — one that resonates with you most, and take one small step today to help re-center your life.

1. Embrace a nature-based diet – feast on what our planet provides.

2. Schedule that overdue health check – prioritize yourself.

3. Trust your gut – if a job or situation feels toxic, it’s time for change.

4. Incorporate herbs and supplements – boost your well-being naturally.

5. Release what burdens you – don’t allow suppressed emotions to hold you back.

6. Chase joy – increase positive emotions by noticing the good.

7. Cultivate a supportive circle – lean on your community.

8. Strengthen your spiritual beliefs – connect with something greater than yourself.

9. Live with purpose – you are uniquely vital to this world.

Every day is a choice that shapes your path ahead. Let’s not take this journey for granted. Love fiercely, connect deeply, and prioritize your own needs, because life can change in an instant.

Are you ready to love like you’re going to lose it?