Embracing the Cycle of Life and Death

I'm continually amazed by who's joining the experiment A YEAR TO LIVE. We have everyone from CEOs to hospice workers, yoga teachers, health practitioners, funeral directors, and retired couples, ranging in age from 30 - 70, but the person who's actually shocked me is Shilpa. 

Shilpa is a 36 year old professional woman living in Los Angeles. She's a wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and mother to an 18 month old son. What's so shocking about that, you ask? Well, the fact that a mom of an 18 month old is willing to consider living as if she only has a year to live is pretty surprising, but the shocking part is that Shilpa is 17 weeks pregnant as I write this. 

She is the only person who's going to be living as though she's dying while growing a child inside her, truly embracing the cycle of life and death.  If her  "diagnosis" of a Year to Live were true Shilpa would be leaving behind a 2.5 year old and a 6 month old baby at the end of next year. I'm so intrigued by her decision to do this, what inspired her and what the year will be like for her, that I've asked her to contribute to my blog throughout the year to share her unique experience. This is what she had to say when I asked her why she's joining this experiment:

So I am taking the Bcelebrated A Year to Live Challenge in 2010.   Am I crazy, especially since I have a 18 month olson and another baby arriving in June 2010?  The thought of having only one more year with my son and six months with my newborn is NERVE-RACKING and HEARTBREAKING.  

My husband asked me why I want to take on a challenge that is so emotionally trying and quite frankly difficult to face. Well, I am the type of person who is willing to take risks and this is an opportunity for me to learn more about me!  Over the course of the year,  I will get the chance to create my own bucket list, heal broken relationships, foster stronger bonds with my family and friends and of course explore new adventures.    

With me being pregnant, I can only only do so much, however, I look forward to explore the deeper meaning of my life and my actions.  I don't want to look back and say coulda, shoulda, woulda.

I hope you will all join us as we take this journey.  I am feeling very scared and nervous  but 2010 is my year to LIVE and  I believe it will be an enlightening experience.

As Lance Armstrong says "LIVE STRONG" ~  Shilpa

To find out more about  A YEAR TO LIVE email me. Debra@Bcelebrated.com