Gabrielle Bouliane: July 24, 1966 — January 29, 2010 (video recorded on December 5, 2009)
A very special thank you to Misty Gibbs from My Inspiration Lounge, and Miranda from Mindful Mimi, for sharing this.
Lance writes stories from his heart, aiming to inspire and motivate, as you align more fully with YOUR true peak. When he’s not here, you can find him hanging out with his family, riding a bike, or just generally acting goofy.
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Hey Lance,
Speaking of same wavelength. This is indeed very powerful. It makes me question my beings and doings. It makes me guilty for not living all the time what she (and others) was not able to live anymore. I try hard every day to live my best life, to do all the things that are written for me to be done.
I have a disabled cousin my age who is currently breathing his last breaths and it does put things in perspective. He never had the same possibilities from the start but was always smiling. He must have been very frustrated to see us live what he could not.
I am sad thinking about all this and happy at the same time for all the things I CAN do. For my boys that are healthy, etc…
I am a bit lacking words here now.
But it’s a good day today.
Enjoy yours — always.
M
.-= Mindful Mimi´s Last Fabulous Post ..Sunday laugh =-.
Blessings thanks for sharing this powerful message
Love Jeanne
.-= Jeanne´s Last Fabulous Post ..Two Horses =-.
Hi Lance,
WOW! This is a powerful message. It definitely hit home with me and has me thinking.
Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
.-= Barbara Swafford´s Last Fabulous Post ..Don’t Let Your Heart Be Broken =-.
Wow Lance, what a timely post. How do you do it? Just what I needed to hear and when I needed to hear it. Thank you soooo much!
Have a great Sunday!
Natalia :0)
Lance my friend,
You always manage to get the most soul stirring stuff here on sundays hmm.…
I agree with Natalia..how do you do it?? Unless youre super ..! Oh…but you are..Super!
Thank you for sharing this Lance! I really needed to hear this today
Much love,
Z~
Life. Is. Short.
Live-out-loud!
.-= Joanna Sutter´s Last Fabulous Post ..Super Bowl Sunday School =-.
I love this. In tears. LOVE IT. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It’s REALLY what I needed today.
.-= Michelle@Eatingjourney´s Last Fabulous Post ..Dress A, B or C? =-.
I know what I want to do !!!!
xoxo
Hi Lance — One of your great gifts is knowing how to communicate perspective. Choosing this to post is proof you’re on top of your game. Thank you.
.-= Betsy Wuebker´s Last Fabulous Post ..The Magic of Collaboration =-.
That is such a powerful message and so well delivered. Thank you for sharing, Lance.
.-= Lynn´s Last Fabulous Post ..Companion, sharing and unexpected =-.
Hi Lance .. so powerful — get on with it — don’t waste a minute .. tell everyone you love you love them, hug them, be with them and enjoy them .. so true — how much time do we waste? From now on none — we can’t as Gabrielle said .. we know not when .. A thought provoking video — I appreciate her words — thanks Lance on a sad week for her family and friends ..
.-= Hilary´s Last Fabulous Post ..Groundhog Day, Candlemas and Jannie the First … =-.
What do you say to that? If we all knew when our last day was going to be, I wonder how differently we would live our lives? Would we forgive more easily? Adventure more? Risk? Stop watching others live, get off the porch and really live ourselves? How about posing that in a future post asking that very question Lance? I wonder if people would do anything differently. What would it take to inspire them to get off the porch and really live?
It is good to be reminded daily to live like we are dying, because we are. I love to read your comments because you bless your readers with your choices and inspiring posts. Thanks Lance, for being you. No one else could do you, so I appreciate that you choose to do you every day!
.-= Audra Krell´s Last Fabulous Post ..Pure Pleasure =-.
Hi Lance! Oh WOW (she says sniffling, drying the tears) Holy Crap! If that doesn’t make ya think, huh? And what a coincidence — again. My post for tomorrow shares such a similar message. It should not take a brush with death to wake us up to living and loving it! All of our pre-conceived problems really are b.s. — just garbage that stinks and needs taking out, and you can chuck fears right along with them.
Thanks for a great introduction into this somewhat shared theme, Lance. It’s also a great tie-in to gratitude! We have to wake up and see the blessings and opportunities we have, instead of our mental limitations! This was awesome. YOU are awesome!
Hugs,
suZen
Hi Lance
Like Barbara said “WOW”!
It takes people like this and stories like this to wake a lot of us up, to stir us, to move us, to ignite a fire within.
Indeed the time to live and love is now, not tomorrow, not yesterday, but now.
The thing is we do have these stories around us, a lot in fact if we look around, and so few of us I still find are making real changes. Too many of us are still gambling on life. Too many are still getting caught up and with the things that in the end don’t really matter.
My wish is that this story projected through your site, is a beautiful invitation for many out there to truly start making all those “spoken” of changes for someday, to become today.
.-= Evita´s Last Fabulous Post ..Essential Energy With Cyndi Dale: The Shopping List of Opposite Sexes – Significance versus Security =-.
Thank you for sharing this Lance…very powerful indeed!
.-= Trish @IamSucceeding´s Last Fabulous Post ..Failure… That Is Success =-.
Hi Lance,
Just beautiful. What she said was so true. I will never forget the moment when I found out that my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer.…life changed in an instant. As it did when she died less than six months later.
People often feel sorry for me for losing my mother so young and some view it as a tragic death. To me, it was the greatest gift in the world. It made me appreciate every simple act. It is so heartbreaking sometimes to see people bitch and moan about crap that does not matter when they have their health, their jobs, their loved ones and so on.
The mere fact someone can go to the bathroom on their own is a huge blessing that should never be under-estimated. Life is precious. Every single moment is precious for you never know when life will change in an instant.
.-= Nadia — Happy Lotus´s Last Fabulous Post ..A Different Take on Being Happy at Work =-.
Touching — I’ve never heard of her. The one thing that kept running through my mind as I listened was “at what point have we heard enough of these messages so that we finally go out and do what it is we WANT to do?” Stop spending time hearing these messages and thinking about them and start living them!
I especially loved the part about going back to school for a profession even if it doesn’t seem to make sense to others. Amen to that.
.-= Stacey Shipman´s Last Fabulous Post ..Feel Good Friday: 6 Ways to Go Red for Women =-.
Hi Lance ,
what a great video to share with us on this Sunday?
I remember my father started fainting suddenly when he was 38. Four months later he left this world because of the ‘brain cancer’. I was 10 then. I hated life at that age.
But now I know life is a precious gift. Having to grow up without him made me stronger I guess. Because no one was there to give me that courage which he could from an one smile.
I still remember he fainted in front of me for the first time and I try to live in the moment.Every moment is a gem. Because who knows what will happen in the next second?
Have a nice day !
.-= vikum´s Last Fabulous Post ..Hard journeys will pay you back =-.
This is a very powerful message Lance .., when there is life there is hope… May we live each moment/s of our life’s to the fullest…
.-= Fatibony{self help wellness}´s Last Fabulous Post ..Two People,Yes, Two Lasting Friends =-.
Amen. What a powerful and inspiring message at the start of a new week. Thank you!
.-= Adrenalynn´s Last Fabulous Post ..A regular blog post with no confessions of any sort. Move along please, nothing to see here. =-.
Some people really have a way with words.
.-= J.D. Meier´s Last Fabulous Post ..Top 10 Lessons Learned in Spirituality =-.
@Mimi — Hi Mimi. It makes me question, too…am I going down that path that deeply and truly speaks to my heart. I keep coming back to this idea of choice. Of the choices we each have. What are we choosing? And thank you so much for sharing about your cousin. Know that I am thinking of you during this time. This one really hard to fully express in words how meaningful it is. Gabrielle gave a beautiful gift with these words she spoke. Mimi, I know you shared this on your site, too. So, I know that this really was impactful for you…as it was for me.
@Jeanne — Thanks so much for listening to this Jeanne.
@Barbara — Gabrielle just really is speaking from the heart, and to know, today, that she is no longer walking on this earth…this message is so important. Barbara, thank you for letting these words touch your soul.
@Natalia — Hi Natalia. These words spoken by Gabrielle have really touched me deeply, too. Perhaps it’s in the finality of knowing that her life has now ended, that they hold even more meaning. Perhaps, in just the real sincerity with which she speaks. What I do know, is that these words have landed upon my heart…in a beautiful way…
@Zeenat — Hi Zeenat. This message is just so deeply good to hear. When I first saw this on Misty’s site, I knew that I had to share it. And thank YOU! What you see in me, Zeenat,is just a reflection of yourself. Thanks so much for being here, super friend!
@Joanna — …and we never know how short. NOW is the time for living!
@Michelle — Hi Mish. I know, as I found these spoken words by Gabrielle to be emotionally challenging ones to listen to. And yet, I was so drawn in by her message, especially with all the uncertainty she was facing in her life — and the death sentence she had been given. And then, to know that she had passed away, I guess that made this even more difficult to watch. Still, as difficult as it was, it was also so soul-good for me, too. In fact, I have watched it several times, and each time is just as emotionally difficult as the first, and also so emotionally good too.
This is up there with Randy Pausch’s “Last Lecture”. Both powerful reminders to live like we mean it right now. Thanks Lance.
.-= Sami — Life, Laughs & Lemmings´s Last Fabulous Post ..Random Acts of Kick Arse – Gratitude =-.
@Jannie — Jannie…know that I find you so well grounded in what is right and good. Shine on, shiny awesome friend…
@Betsy — Hi Betsy. Thank you, so much, for your words today. When I first saw this video at Misty’s site, I just knew this was a message that was so worth sharing. It is an honor to present these words here today…
@Lynn — Thanks so much, Lynn. Gabrielle’s message is spoken so beautifully from her heart…
@Hilary — Hi Hilary. I can only imagine how difficult this has been for Gabrielle’s family and friends…these last few days. Yet, she has left this world with a message that can touch our souls, and that is a rich and caring gift she has given. Now…it is up to each of us in how we choose to use that gift…
@Laurie — Words can’t really do justice to this. For me, it’s really just letting these words soak into my soul a little deeper. And they are…as Gabrielle so beautifully (and with force) shared a part of her life that I’m sure was not easy at the time. How can we live differently? And…are we really living? These are deep questions, questions for each of us to answer from our heart… Laurie, thank you, as always, for your generous thoughts here.
@Audra — Audra, that’s just it. We ARE dying, each of us. Our time on earth, as far as I know, is limited. We have this moment, though. How will we choose to use it? And Gabrielle’s words, in this video, really touched me today. Or really, over the last couple of days. Audra, your presence here, and the faith with which you live out your life, are a gift to me. Always…
@Suzen — Hi Suzen. There is a deep emotional connection to this video for me. Gabrielle’s life. Ended. And yet, just before that happened, she took the time to share this wonderful message. Yes, those pre-conceived problems we have…what are they really, in the grand scheme of things? Nothing. A blip. Yet, they can consume us, and hold us back from truly shining our own inner colors. Suzen, I look forward to what you have to share tomorrow. You are a true gift in my life…
@Evita — Hi Evita. Perhaps it’s that finality here, that in knowing as we watch this, that Gabrielle has left this earth. There is a “waking up” in that, I suppose. For me, it touches me at my core, hearing these words spoken, feeling the pain with which they are shared. The real lesson here, I believe, is not just in hearing these words and having that fire ignited. It’s in keeping that fire burning tomorrow, next week, next month, next year…long after we have watched this beautiful life performance by Gabrielle. So, Evita, I am in such deep agreement with you here. It’s the act of really listening to our hearts and then boldly letting what we hear become a real part of our being. Thank you so much for all you have so wonderfully shared here, and for all you always share and give of yourself.
@Trish — These words are ones that touch at our core, at my core. Thank you Trish…
@Nadia — Hi Nadia. I can only imagine the challenging moments of losing a parent, on any loved one close to me. The moment you know there is a finality to it all, this just has to really put life into a different perspective…one based very much on love and caring. And yes, all too often people get wrapped up in what is “so bad” in their life…when they have so much to be thankful for. And that is really about letting gratitude become such a bigger part of our life, and how much of a blessing that can be. Life IS precious. YOU are precious. Nadia, thank you…
@Stacey Shipman — That part really jumped out at me, too. This idea that Gabrielle’s message isn’t something new or profound. I’ve heard it many times. All we have is this moment. Really “live” it. And yet, there is something very moving in her message. I guess, for me it’s the finality of it all, and of knowing that she is nearing the end of her life…all too soon. So, living out the voice in our soul…does this video change that at all? And can that change be lasting change? My hope is that the words of Gabrielle in some way touch someone out there to the point where it DOES change their life…and they let that voice in their heart shine…
@Vikum — Hi Vikum. What a challenging time, so see your father pass away at such a young age for you. And yet, in that, I see a resiliency in your heart, to live. And to see the way that life truly can be fleeting. Keep living every moment, my friend…you are a gift to this world…
@Fatibony — And if we can do that, live each moment to it’s fullest…then we are touching upon a very good life here on this earth.
@Adrenalynn — Gabrielle has shared such a touching story…the story of her life…and what that means for each of us. Her gift will live on…and an angel she truly is…
@J.D. Meier — …and Gabrielle is one of the people. Her message shines through so beautifully…
@Sami — As I watched this, I too thought of Randy Pausch, and the message he gave as he too was dying. Both of them are deeply good at reminding us that life is now, and that what we have today can change in an instant. Sami, know that you are a gift here…always…
Thank you Lance. I almost did not watch this…but then I thought, Lance would not post something not worth watching… So powerful.…so very very powerful.
.-= Caroline´s Last Fabulous Post ..One day at a time =-.
thank you for this.…
I came here from caroline’s blog.…and I think this is something we all need to watch today !
Lance,
This person reminds me of myself. Intense and direct. Some times those traits work against us but on the other hand like she says, we have no time to waste. This was great and I’m sharing it with a few people.
It was sweet of her to reach out to help others to live each day as if it were the last. Her powerful message reminded me of Randy Pausch’s “Last Lecture” as was already mentioned.
.-= Diane AZ´s Last Fabulous Post ..Reading Shadows =-.
Do you hear, Gabrielle asks, do I hear ???
I am already half angel, she says, do I understand?
Oh Lance, do I hear, do I really hear?
I am doing my darnedest, she is so compassionate, she knows what she is talking about, shall I honor her to hear her.
I shall and I shall honor to hear you Lance, because you are sharing this.
Love, lots of love, Wilma
.-= Wilma Ham´s Last Fabulous Post ..When is ‘enough’ enough? =-.
Amazing what perspective can do for our lives. I’m glad she had a chance to speak that poem before she died.
She is right. We are going to die. We need to start living today. We need to love our jobs, friends, life for all their worth.
.-= Karl — Work Happy Now´s Last Fabulous Post ..How Can I Help You in 2010? =-.
Thanks Lance. She is powerful and I hope can help people to awaken to what can be and what already is in their lives. Lance.…..your Sunday posts are having a theme Lance.…do you feel like the world, that we are not awake enough? Hmm? If so, I agree…for sure. How Lance. How do we wake them up? How do people wake up who are asleep to the power of their life? I think about this all the time. How can we, who are doing our best to be awake, lighten the energy level of this planet so that it will brighten up enough to stream sunlight in to waken those who are still slumbering. What a marvelous day it will be when we all say Good Morning to each other, it will be like a universal collective breakfast. One that will start a new era of our collective being.
Lance,
I saw this on Facebook and never thought to post it, but I’m glad you did because everybody needs to watch this. It made me cry and immediately get in touch with those I care about. Thanks for this reminder! And I know you’re one person who lives as she advises, everyday… You rock!
.-= Daphne @ Joyful Days´s Last Fabulous Post ..Seven Proven Ways to Live A Happy Life =-.
Wow another timely message after the angels decided to tell mge, being bold and e it was time to take a leap of faith, take a risk and put my heart’s true desire into action, I come here and watch and listen to this. This is the message I would give if I was in that situation .
Thanks Lance time to really start living large, being bold .
How exciting is that
Thank you for you inspiration,
hugs
Suzie
.-= Suzie Cheel´s Last Fabulous Post ..Gratitude Meditation =-.
Very true: What are we waiting for? We know we’re going to die, someday, but we live as if we’re going to live forever: I’ll do that tomorrow, maybe next year, I still have time . . . maybe you do, and maybe you don’t.
.-= Marelisa´s Last Fabulous Post ..The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur: You Can Pull It off =-.
@Caroline — Powerful and moving. And Gabrielle…what a determination of spirit, even in all she was going through at that time, to get up there on stage and speak so openly. Caroline, I see that you have shared this also, on your site. Thank you for continuing to spread this message…a message that NOW is what we have. Keep on living that way, dear and sweet friend…
@Beth — I believe this too. No matter how aligned we are with living from our heart, there is something in this video for everyone. I guess I see that in this idea that death is near when the video is recorded. And as a viewer, we can feel that…and I really believe that it hits home. We will die. Our time on earth will end. And when we reach that…either soon, or many years down the road…what is it that will have really mattered? Thanks for coming over Beth…
@Tess — Hi Tess. And do you know what? We all have our own style, and that yours is intense and direct…this is so good. And it is, because it IS you. Just like every one of use, there are certain moments when our traits help us and others when they pose challenges for us. And I definitely see you as intense and direct, and Tess…what I also see is you, living your life…always…and that is so, so good to see.
@Diane AZ — Yes, this is so reminiscent of Randy Pausch and his “Last Lecture”. A death sentence, and what that message can teach us all. This was hard for me to watch, and it was also so good for me to watch. Diane, thanks so much for taking the time today to view this…
@Wilma — Wilma, you know…what I see here in you, is a deep questioning. And that is so good, because I think in these deeper questions we ask ourselves, we get more deeply connected to our core. And that you are asking these questions publicly, this speaks volumes to who you are, and to your belief in really going even deeper into who you truly are. Wilma, you have a deep and caring heart. This I know. And I very much believe also that you shine who you are in all your daily activities. And I find that to be deeply connecting, seeing this in you. Peace and love to you…
@Karl — I think it took a lot of courage on her part, to get up there and do this. I’m sure there were days, after all the medication, that the last thing Gabrielle wanted to do was go out in public, let alone stand in front of a group of people. And yet, she did. And she did that beautifully, and shared a message that is so touching and meaningful. This moment, this day…is what we have right now…how are we going to choose to use that time?
@Katie — So, I’ll tell you what I think, Katie. You ARE doing this. I’ve personally witnessed this…you going out into the world and living. And in living, you are touching lives in some beautiful ways. You are touching my life in some beautiful ways. So, know today that you are making a real difference in our world. And to your thought about a theme around here recently? Yes, in fact I’ve found myself gravitating toward this theme of: our life is now, and we each hold the keys to that beautiful life within us. Are we unlocking the door, to let that out? Today’s video is so hard for me to watch, as I really think about the finality of life. And perhaps that sense is even stronger, knowing that Gabrielle’s life has now ended…just a short couple of months after this video was recorded. So — yes, how to we bring this message out there into the world, into a world that desparately needs to hear this?
@Daphne — Hi Daphne. The words shared by Gabrielle brought tears to my eyes, too. A life cut short…and a life so worth living. How many people out there are cutting their life short by not letting that voice in there heart shine through? Deeply moving. Daphne, thank you so much for your wonderful and sweet words here tonight…
@Suzie — Suzie…wow! I really get this feeling like the message Gabrielle shared, especially of her own angel wings, was one that has landed beautifully upon your heart. And that is very much filled with inspiration. Thanks so much for being here today Suzie…
@Marelisa — When we are healthy, and maybe even of a younger age — we can feel invincible. Or at the very least, not be really thinking about our own death. Yet, that day will come. And we never really know for sure when. So…NOW is the time…
Wow. Most timely message. Thank you!
Almost everything she says resonates. Cancer, rape…been there and it’s life changing indeed. You can conquer anything you wish, it’s all about perspective and your level of faith. Every day at work I watch people make the choice to live or die…physically and spiritually. I’ve watch some people beg to hang on, while others give up and the fire in their eyes dwindles as their hope vanishes. I’ve watched my friends make that choice. Despair, hopelessness hurts my heart. Every moment you can smile, hug your loved ones, thank your God/Universe.….precious and blessed. Indeed.
.-= Joy´s Last Fabulous Post ..Faith =-.
It takes a lot of guts to stand up there, bare your soul, and dare someone to OPEN their eyes right now before it’s too late.
These brave souls touch our very hearts like one of those portable defibrillators. Shocking us with truth.
Brilliant, well spoken, and full of inspiration.
Thanks Lance.
http://youthinkyoucanblog.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/the-phoenix/
I so needed this this morning. In fact, I need this every morning, noon and night. I have worked very hard to slow my life down and appreciate but this tells me that it’s still not enough and there is more that I could do.
Thank you.
Lance, OMG! Her message is powerful. Essentially, don’t put off today what you can do tomorrow for we never know what tomorrow may bring. It’s a message that I can easily lose sight of in the midst of life’s minor road bumps. She is surely angel w. a message and I am grateful to have heard it.
@Joy — Joy, reading your comment today, know that it touches me deeply. See, I can sit here and watch these words spoken by Gabrielle, and they do reach into the depth of my soul. But I am much harder pressed to see this having had moments in my life where I can feel like I “know”. So, reading this from you, know that it also takes me deep within my own soul, as I try to even comprehend what this might be like. And to see the beautiful zest for life and living that you have…it is so wonderful and connecting for me. Know that your words especially today have special meaning for me.
@Angelia — And those were my thoughts too…as to the courage it took to come out and do this, to share such raw and true emotion. And that’s a gift, really. A gift that I hope I can take even a small portion from, into my own life. What a wonderful angel she is…
@Jodi — Hi Jodi. It can be easy to get bogged down in the daily “stuff” in our lives…and in that, let slip what really and truly matters. And then to see something like this, and to let these words soak into our soul…wow! Perspective, huh…
@Kristy — Hi Kristy. That is it. Today is what we have. To think…just five short months ago, this wonderful person was living as normal a life as anyone else…and then — pow! Cancer. And a death sentence. And yet, she took the time to share such a touching and meaningful message…an angel, no doubt…
Lance,
Thank-you for sharing this very powerful video. This should be on every TV channel every day for a month, it would have such an impact!
Mark,
I know. I have watched this several times, and each time is just as meaningful as the first. And I think it’s that finality, for me, that really brings this home. Anyway, thanks so much for being here Mark.
I somehow missed this on Sunday. But found it through The Bold Life.
This has sucker punched me in the gut because I am so there and this is so what I needed to hear. But it is coming at me from all directions, that hundredth monkey syndrome. I am impressed by her fearlessness, her passion, her vision. I am sad that this bright light has gone out. But maybe, just maybe she is on that cloud with her wings yelling at me to get the f#@k up and be who I am supposed to be. And who am I to question an angel?
As ever, Lance, you have provided the seed of truth.
Enjoy the day.
Erin
.-= Erin Prais-Hintz´s Last Fabulous Post ..Simmer your creativity…Bead Soup! =-.