So, I have been grounded by my doctor for a few days. I feels like a conspiracy or maybe a message from God to slow down. Either way, it just like when I was a teenager. Being grounded plays with my mind and emotions. I hate it. But the blessing of not getting to hit the gym at 6:30 and then run around or do yard work is that I am making time to do the other things on my long summer "to do" lists. I am getting things ready for the next school year, catching up with family, and now fulfilling a goal to share the journey of an amazing woman.
This post may seem long, but take a few minutes and read some of Julie Shill's words. I promise you will be uplifted. She has also agreed to make her Facebook posts public. Friend her. You need her in your life. She started sharing her food journey on instagram (search Julie Shill) and her blog (juliesnotdyingtoday.com) Follow her! I don't even like cooking and I enjoy it!
I wanted to share her story for several months. She gave me her permission and agreed to make her posts public, but I found it hard to write because I believe that words matter. I wanted to capture her perfectly and I worried that I wouldn't find the right words. Then I realized that I didn't need to find the words at all....she already had. So I have chosen to share just a few of the her Facebook posts so you get to know her better.
In December, Julie posted this:
Oh....on January 1, she also posted this:
Just seeing these two posts together both broke my heart and made me smile. I felt they gave a true picture of Julies' spirit and character. I was both right and wrong. Julie is very spiritual and she does have a sense of humor that I appreciate, but through her posts over the past few months she has shared how tender, spiritual, fierce, creative, grateful, generous, giving, and strong she really is.
True disclosure: I first met Julie at church and though I always admired her, we never became close friends. That is on me, for sure. So, as Julie has opened up about her journey, I am getting to know her better along with the rest of the social media world. It has been a gift.
You've got to love someone who posts:
And this....
And this. For some reason it is one of my favorites.
I think when the time is right, we should throw a "Bye, Felicia" party. Who's with me?
During this journey, Julie created a Joy Journal. Read her post from April 24 to learn how she learned to "have joy through the trial." I could never hope to share the experience with as much eloquence. Many of Julie's posts....even in the midst of her trials....are now through the lens of joy.
#noexcuses #findingthejoy #makingeverymomentcount #lookatthatsmile #lovethatspirit
Julie began focusing on a plant-based diet and posting pictures and recipes of her successes.
And then, this...
One of words I used earlier in describing Julie was generous. Read through her posts and you will be introduced to the remarkable doctor who found Julie's cancer and literally save her life. You will also meet her medical care team, her hair dresser (who made a house call,) her friends, her widening support team, the family who keeps her foundation strong, and even this little boy with a special need of his own.
And finally, from earlier this week...
Julie Shill, you ARE a star and I am honored to know you.
