Today was a weird day. Found out a friend of a friend just passed away. She was a new friend of mine, but I loved her spirit nonetheless. Misty was a true original. She was full of love and life and passion. She had decided to quit her day gig last Jan. because it just didn’t fit who she was. She was an artistic soul; the kind of person that see’s beauty in little things, where others might not.

We had gotten to know each other last year on a camping trip over Halloween weekend. We’d only met one other time, but we connected instantly, and she encouraged me to start my business and loved talking with me about it. She was one of the first people to call me “Coach”. On our trip she asked me for advice about finding her “Mr. Right”, but admitted she was having fun with “Mr. Right Now”. Shortly after, she did meet her Mr. Right. Sometime after the 1st of the year (Just as her and Mr. Right were getting hot and heavy) she got what she thought was a bad case of the flu. After a couple of weeks she went to the doctor, and it was Leukemia.

Misty fought it through one round of chemo. I even just saw her earlier this summer at a Cardinal baseball game. She was really thin, and wore a cool scarf on her head, but she was kickin’ it with her friends and supporting her STL Cards. (And yes, Mr. Right stood by her side.)

I got kinda funky today when I heard the news. But then I got to thinking how much Misty loved life. And that she probably lived a fuller, richer 31 years on this planet than a lot of people I know. She laughed a lot. Played a lot. Lived life on her terms. Right up until the end. So I want to thank Misty for being a great model for living and for owning her unique-ness. Expressing her self in her way. Never taking no for an answer and being bold and courageous as she wrestled with this illness.

I am trying to focus on her strength, her passion, and her love of life. I don’t want to feel bad. I don’t want to feel funky. Cuz this was just another reminder that life is precious. Life is short. Our job is to LIVE it UP! BE who we are. Love one another. Play full out. Live out loud. Be bold. Be bad ass. Take risks. Focus on what we want. And let the rest GO. Misty’s life was a beautiful celebration of passion and purpose.

Thank you Misty - for your light, your love, and your inspiration…
Kam