the very best.

I've noticed that there are certain people in my life who always make me want to be a better person. Every time I talk to them or read their words or hear about their amazing lives I am inspired. I am in awe of these people and I think I would be intimidated by them, except for the fact that they make me believe that I can be that kind of person too. They make me see that I can be a little better and a little stronger and a little more like the person I wish to be. I love these people--I don't know where I would be without them!



My dear, dear friend Ashley White is one of these incredible people. I have been impressed by her intelligence, drive, fortitude and incredible humor and wit since I first met her in middle school (and if you're anything like me me, it was incredibly hard to be impressive in middle school!). I look up to her so much! Her example makes me push myself to do more and achieve more in my own life.

So, last Tuesday when I found out that Ashley was unexpectedly faced with a physical ailment that will change her life in so many ways, it is no surprise that her experience has again influenced the way I want to live my own life. It reminds me how precious our lives are; how much we take for granted in our lives; how quickly everything can change. It makes me want to live each day a little more fully. It make me want to stop procrastinating. It makes me want to make sure I let people know how much they mean to me. And it makes me want to enjoy every beautiful moment in my life and see each as the gift it truly is.

(As I am writing this, I keep thinking of "Seize the Day" from the "Newsies." It reminds me of the summer when Ashley and I worked together and had a 45 minute commute each way to our office, we memorized the Newsies soundtrack, singing it at the top of our lungs on our drive both ways. It was the best!)

My dear friends, I hope that we can all be a little more like Ashley White. I hope we can be strong in our trials and true to our beliefs. I hope we can work hard and give our all to everything we do. I hope we can love others with our whole hearts. I hope we will make people smile and laugh as often as we can. I hope we will continually strive to reach our potential and become the best person we can be.

Ashley, you inspire me everyday! I love you even more than I love Christian Bale! (hehehe)

Love,
Foolio :)