In 2010 my grandma was diagnosed with colon cancer. After she got sick she was always reminding my family and I to always live life to the fullest. May 3rd, 2011 she passed away. Until recently I didn’t truly understand what she meant, sure I understood the face value of what she was saying but it took until earlier this month for me too really get it.

On May 3rd, 2015 my dad, sister, and I went to the cemetery where my grandma is buried. As we were standing next to her grave remembering all the fun times we had with her my dad brought up living life to the fullest. He started talking about how he always wants for my sisters and I to do the things we love. Whether it’s traveling around Europe (Marisa), or backpacking the Appalachian Trail (Lauren), or riding horses (me), or even lying in the grass outside on a nice day he just wants us to be happy. He said that he doesn’t want us to get to that point in our lives when it’s time for us to die and wonder “What if?”

Before that conversation I thought that living life to the fullest meant that you had to go on some huge trip or do something absolutely insane. But, now? Now I know that you don’t have to do those things to live life to the fullest. It’s not always the big things sometimes it’s the little things that matter the most.