The moment Harper was born, I felt a deep shift inside of my soul. It was undeniable and immediate. I knew that I would never be the same again. I would be better, stronger, more loving, more kind, more me. Her life and death put everything in perspective for me. I had never been so crystal clear about what’s important, and more importantly, what’s not.
Up until that point, my life was absolutely beautiful (and it still is, but at the time things were too raw to feel that). I was very happily married to my very best friend, a complete partner in life. We had a gorgeous son who had a personality bigger than life. I had worked so hard in my career, obtaining my Master’s Degree, working my way up the corporate ladder to the top as global vice president of marketing. I had lots and lots of truly amazing friends – the kind of friends that were also like family and I am extremely close with my family. Truly, it felt like we had it all and then we lost her.
No amount of money could bring her back, and trust me, I would have spent every last penny if that were the case. So what good was money now? It was so clear that it held no power. How did all the stress of building businesses and conquering my marketing goals help protect me? It didn’t. So, what were the point of those goals? Why did I ever stress so much over something so meaningless?
What became clear is that family, friends and truly living life is all that mattered now. I don’t make plans the way I used to, mostly because I like to see where the week will take me. I try my best to live in the present, and in the moment and that is how I choose to honor Harper every single day. I put our family first, work second, money last. I am still just as driven, but now I am driven to make a difference in people’s lives. I never want to lose sight of that deep shift that occurred on May 15, 2015. That shift is her light shining through me.