It is my great honor to introduce my dear friend Isse Waddey to Soulful 7 Conversations. She is a mother, wife, friend, successful health care professional, woman of incredible faith and currently battling stage 4 colon cancer. My conversation with Isse was a huge wake-up call for me and I hope it will be for you too. Isse asks the prescient and powerful question, “Do you have to wait until you are told you have six months, to finally live the life you want to live?” She knows intimately how precious and short our stay actually is here on earth. Her question gnawed at me the entire summer. Am I living the life I want to live? Intellectually, Spiritually— I know the life I want to live: a creative and adventurous one; low in stress and very family-centered; enriched with many meaningful relationships and an ever-evolving spiritual consciousness. I want to travel, enjoy good food, books and time in nature. I wish to approach the uncertain path ahead not in fear, but with a healthy curiosity for all the possibilities. (God, what’s next!) Faced with life’s struggles, I don’t want to shrink, but expand. Lastly, I would like every person who crosses my path to be a bit better for it!

 

The problem is I live as if there will always be more time. Too easily I get tangled up in the minutia and often live everywhere but the present moment. I know I am not alone in this admission. For Isse, time is very precious and therefore she is living a life that is deep, full of meaning and overflowing with joy. Nothing else matters. Our hour-long conversation is prophetic and chock-full of tips for how we can all live more soulfully.

 

Give the best and all of yourself to every moment.

Listen and trust your intuitive soul.

Take care of your body and spirit.

Reconcile your relationships.

Talk intimately with God.

Trust that God’s Plan is wholly good.

Work at finding inner peace.

Tell people you love them at every chance.

Enjoy the beauty around you.

Meet life’s obstacle with courage and faith.

 

Jesus told his disciples and friends, “Stay Awake!” He knew how easily the sacred thread can slip through our mortal fingers. We regularly need “wake-up calls,” maybe even a forceful grab by the collar! Standing at the edge of life and death, my friend Isse has stepped into the role of prophet, with a pressing message for you and for me: There is no time to wait. Live your one precious life now!

Isse is a very important person to me and to so many. I would be humbled if you would include she and her family in your prayers this week! And I hope you will share a link to today’s Soulful 7 Conversation with  friends and family!