You might be dissatisfied with your life. Not enough money, unfulfilling job, meandering relationship. Perhaps you spend too much time online arguing about politics with strangers. Sometimes we all feel like something is missing, and perhaps all we need is a little perspective.
“If something is making you miserable, you do have the power to change it – in work or love or whatever it may be. Have the guts to change. You don’t know how much time you’ve got on this earth so don’t waste it being miserable.”
These are the words of Holly Butcher, from Grafton in NSW, Australia. She recently lost her battle with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that primarily affects young people. Holly was just 27 when she passed away.
As she came to terms with her mortality, a heartrendingly painful thing to have to do at such a young age, Holly decided to write an open letter about the lessons she learned, reflecting on the way her experience made her come to value every second of her time on earth. “I’m 27 now. I don’t want to go,” she wrote. “I love my life. I am happy… I owe that to my loved ones. But the control is out of my hands.”
Perhaps Holly’s words, coming from the heart with passion and a searing honesty, will help people to see the bigger picture, one that is often lost in a sea of ultimately meaningless stresses and worries that quickly consume our everyday existence. She urges us to grasp the things that are important, and live life to the full. “That’s the thing about life, it is fragile, precious, unpredictable and each day is a gift, not a given right.”
This is Holly Butcher. Recently she posted her final message on Facebook
The very next day, she passed away from cancer with her family by her side. She was just 27 years old
Her powerful message has been shared around the world, as people related to her passionate advice to live life to its fullest
