Find Your Happy Place. GO THERE.

Three years ago shortly after my metastatic diagnosis, Dr. Carriere, my amazing doctor who blends Eastern and Western medicine, asked me, "Where do you see yourself in ten years? When you picture yourself happiest, where are you and with whom?" 

"Duh. Ireland. With my husband," I quickly replied.

Nick had never been, and it truly is my happiest place.

Dr. Carriere explained to me the power and importance of visualizing. It's the idea that if you picture it happening often enough, it will happen.

I began to fixate on the image of Nick and me standing above the Cliffs of Moher.

We went to Ireland fourteen months ago.

Why wait ten years?! My health has been stable. Why else are we here? To work forty hours each week? Or to create memories that will bring us utter joy?

Standing at the Cliffs of Moher with Nick was such a special moment for me. It's a place I've shared with many I love, including my mom.

This month, I had a window to go to Ireland again, this time by myself. It was my seventh visit in twenty-five years. As I walked down Grafton Street, I was smiling ear to ear at the sounds of the street musicians and the majestic beauty of the Christmas lights strung above.

Every person and place in that country has special meaning to me.

Temple Bar District reminds me of my dear friend Gvidas. He died too young of cancer. We enjoyed a musical pub crawl in Dublin fifteen years ago. Walking that area is another reminder of the brevity of life and the importance of embracing it - for ourselves and for those who cannot.

Time spent with my dear friend Katie reminds me of the role God plays in putting certain people in our lives. Katie and I met by chance at a networking event in 2004. She got my number that night, and we became fast friends. Our love of Ireland brought us to together, and now she lives there (lucky). When we eat cookie dough and drink wine on her couch by the fire, I am grateful for the unexpected friendships in my life.

The ring shop in Galway reminds of the importance of having faith. In 2012, I bought myself a ring that says "Anam Cara," meaning soul friend. I was single at the time, and I bought it to remind myself that he was out there and worth waiting for.

My Irish family, some I've known for twenty-five years, some I met for the first time last year, remind me of the people who play a role in who I am. I see parallels in my Irish family to my American family - in their wit, compassion, and interactions. I feel "home" when I'm in their company. Eithne in Cork has always reminded me of mom. My brother said after this trip (he joined me for 5 days), "Hanging out with Eithne was like hanging out with mom for the weekend." Fergus took us to the plot of land where our great-great grandparents raised our great-grandmothers (who were sisters). Being on that land and seeing the small shack they likely lived in is part my story. I came from this place.

I frequently dream of being in Ireland. Sometimes flying over it, sometimes, like last night, I am floating through it down a river. Last night I passed the abandoned castle my best friend Christina and I explored during her visit in 2002.

Maybe it's my roots, maybe it’s the people, the scenery and the sounds, maybe it's the memories I've formed in all my visits - whatever it is, Ireland is my happy place. It owns my soul.

Do you know your happy place? Whether you share it with someone or you make it your own first and then bring them back, GO THERE. Quit making excuses as to why you can't. Visualize it. Make it happen. Work will be waiting when you come back.