In one year you’re going to be diagnosed with cancer. Your entire life is going to be flipped upside down. You will still hate the phrase “YOLO” but you will really start to understand what that means on a deeper level. You really do only get to live once.

Pay attention to your body. Go to the doctor and get cancer screenings, even though cancer is the furthest thing from your mind.

You’ll realize that it’s okay to pull your kids out of school for a day to go to Billy Beez. It’s okay to skip part of a conference to go see a band you’ve always wanted to see. It’s okay to take time off work to travel. It’s also okay to rest when you need to.

You’ll lose the beard you spent 10 years growing, and it will be emotional, but it will be okay.

Live. Be present. Prioritize what’s important to you. Appreciate the people you love and appreciate the time you have with them.

But, it’s also okay that it’s hard to always appreciate life. You don’t always want to stop and smell the roses. “Don’t sweat the small stuff” is easy to say – but you will get frustrated at “little” things. Don’t beat yourself up over it. You’re human. Just try your best to remember what’s truly important.