What about our trip to Italy? The dance class I wanted to sign up for? Will I still be able to go to that outdoor concert with my daughter? All these thoughts crossed my mind as I sat patiently waiting for my breast imaging results.

I had a mammogram a few months ago and the results showed that no abnormalities were detected. Still I continued with my breast self-exams on a regular basis. It was during one of those self-exams when my finger felt a small bump under my armpit where I never felt one before.

The breast imaging was followed by an ultrasound of my right armpit. My heart sank when the technician said, “Okay, I’ll ask the doctor to come speak with you”.

That’s when I suddenly realized just how fast life could change in the blink of an eye.

All of a sudden I felt bad that I was too busy to take a couple of hours out of my work day last week to meet my best friends at IKEA to check out some kitchen cabinets.

I realized that I should’ve sat myself down and created new engaging content for my blog that has the purpose of celebrating life, love and joy.

Visions of myself growing old gracefully and actively – like those women I’ve seen dancing for joy on TikTok or Instagram Reels – slowly faded from my view.

And there are life’s milestones that I have yet to experience with my family.

We were going to learn how to play pickleball when we retire. We’ve always wanted to travel to Japan during the spring time to see the delicate cherry blossoms. Or maybe return to South Korea for more shopping, authentic ddeokbokki and gimbap, and visit some of the iconic film locations of the popular KDramas we’ve watched on Netflix. We were going to watch late morning movies during the summer at the local theater during the weekdays when hardly anyone was around because everyone else was in school or at work.

My daughter’s college graduation, a career that she’s passionate about, the love in her eyes as she glances at the one who makes her heart soar. Perhaps someday, she will also lovingly gaze at the bundle of joy in her arms who will fill her life with even more love, very much in the same way that it filled mine when I held her in my arms the day she was born.

“Let’s have a look at you,” said the doctor when she walked in. As I laid on the table while she continued with the examination and looking at the imaging results, I thought of all the beauty and joy I’ve had the privilege of experiencing in my life and how I wish I had more…

“Well, I really don’t see anything. I checked everything and it all looks normal to me,” said the doctor.

I felt a quiet but jubilant sense of relief as I removed the examination gown and changed back into my clothes.

And I started to ask myself on my drive home,“What am I waiting for?”

I immediately sent my friends a text asking to meet for coffee the following week.

Since I’m not getting any younger and I know I have to keep moving, I signed up for a Zumba class and an open level adult ballet class.

I started to plan new content for my blog. I realized it’s never too late to continue pursuing anything that will bring a creative purpose and meaning into my life.

I’m not sure if I’m really interested in pickleball but I agreed to go to the driving range with my husband and do a few practice swings. I don’t have upper body strength – but at this point, I should be grateful to have any kind of strength to do anything. We made a deal – if I’m going to learn how to play golf, he’ll agree to join me for bachata dance lessons.

After learning basic Italian phrases on my Duolingo app, I’ll start learning Japanese so I’ll know how to say “Dōmo arigatōgozaimasu” after someone gives me directions to the nearest coffee shop during our trip to Japan in the next year or so.

I may not know all the songs by the KPop band performing at the stadium that has a seating capacity of 60,000 but I’m sure I’ll enjoy every minute of the concert – mainly because I get to spend precious time watching it with my daughter.

When it feels right, when it invigorates you and makes you come alive – that’s always a reminder that your mind and soul is making space for new memories and experiences. Life is like that, so live it, love it – and don’t wait one more day to enjoy everything it has to offer.