You Can Decide to be Happy

You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.

— Jane Marczewski (a.k.a. “Nightbird”)

If you have been receiving Camp Notes for a little while you likely know the core belief that guides all the work we do…. It is never too late to pursue a dream.

We have been deeply moved this week by a young lady that embodies this belief so fully and vibrantly… Jane Marczewski, a singer who calls herself “Nightbird.”

Jane has cancer and her diagnosis is a scary one. She also has a beautiful smile, a gorgeous voice, unwavering optimism, and a contagious zest for life. There is so much more to her than her diagnosis and she is living her dream before our very eyes.

Her dream is to be a singer and her “golden buzzer moment” is a dream come true. And perhaps more importantly, her original song, “It’s OK,” has deeply moved millions as she sweetly and courageous reminds us that we can all be a bit lost at times... and that’s ok.

Jane reminds us that happiness is an inside job. She sees delight in the ordinary and is fully present with what is.

She also reminds us that you can decide to be happy and choose to focus on the good stuff, even when life gets really tough.

If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s Nightbird's beautiful performance of It’s Ok.

As always, remember…. You can choose to be happy AND it’s never too late for you to pursue a dream.

WRITING & REFLECTION:

How would you experience your life differently if you decided to be happy?