Lessons from One of My Favorite People

This year, life threw our family a curveball. My brother-in-law — one of my favorite people in the whole wide world — was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It’s one of those moments that shakes everything you thought you understood about time, love, and what truly matters.

As scary as it’s been, what’s amazed me most is him. His strength. His perspective. His heart. Even in the face of something so heavy, he’s been the one teaching us how to live — reminding us of what’s really important.

Here are a few of the lessons he’s passed on that I’ll never forget:

1.     Don’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today. Life happens in a jiffy. Don’t postpone the things — or the people — that matter. Tomorrow is never promised.

2.     Life isn’t made of grand moments — it’s built in the everyday ones. The way we live day to day should be enough to make us proud if tomorrow never comes.

3.     We come here to experience life, not control it. The good and the bad both carry lessons, and we have to trust that the universe has a bigger plan for us than we could ever design ourselves.

4.     Happiness comes from a grateful heart. It’s not about ignoring what’s hard, but about choosing to see what’s still good, even when life feels heavy. Gratitude doesn’t change your circumstances — it changes your perspective.

His courage and grace have been the ultimate reminder that life isn’t about waiting for everything to be perfect — it’s about embracing it exactly as it is, finding beauty in the chaos, and love in the ordinary.

So this December, I’m dedicating this issue to him — and to everyone who keeps showing up for life, and each other, even when it gets tough. You are the real heroes.

With endless love and gratitude,
Daniella