I dedicate this blog to my love bug, my best friend, my heart, my mom–

Cynthia Rose Harris (November 21, 1947 – March 16, 2002) Happy Heavenly Birthday

Love your daughter, Anji

LIVE LOVE DREAM NOW! is so much more than a blog to me.  Its pure existence is the fulfillment of a desire whispered to me by mom in her final days of life. During this time she wasn’t speaking much. It’s not that she couldn’t, she just didn’t.  I guess maybe she was in a more contemplative state where she knew her words mattered– that any word she uttered could be her last. So, I believe that she was choosing her words wisely and spoke when she had something significant to say.  

On this particular day, I was visiting her alone in the hospital before she was released to come home for hospice care.  I remember that she slept most of the time I was there and was pretty quiet.  As I was bending down to kiss her forehead before I left, she grabbed my arm and pulled me to the bed to sit down, and whispered in my ear. “I want you to live. I want you to let someone love you. And I want you to pursue your dreams.”  With tears in my eyes and a crackle in my voice, I nodded yes and replied, “Okay.”  That moment and those words are forever etched into my heart.

I wish that I could say that I took those words and ran with them back then, but I didn’t.  It would take me several years to fully comprehend the gravity and weight of her words and how they would eventually manifest themselves in my life.  I have to admit it has been and continues to be a process–One of intentionality.

But today, as I launch this blog in her honor, I can truly say that I’m on the path of living my life for ME, I am pursuing my dreams, and my heart is poised and ready to welcome and receive love. Though she is not here to witness the birth of this blog or all the wonderful things that will come out of this experience, I believe in my heart somehow she already knew that the words she released over my life would not only take root, but would grow, flourish, and bear much fruit!  

I love you, Love Bug! Happy Birthday.