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People life should not have any regrets, but I’ve learned that living with intention is far more powerful.
At twenty-eight, my life changed forever. I was diagnosed ,a rare lung disease. Suddenly, the world I knew vanished. I was told pregnancy could be life-threatening, there was no cure, and my life expectancy was just five to ten years. Hearing those words, my body froze. My chest tightened, my legs buckled, and tears streamed silently down my face. I was scared, heartbroken, and completely alone. Then I decided to fight.
In the months that followed, I tried to escape the reality of my diagnosis. I indulged in food, alcohol, travel, and anything that could distract me from the truth. I clung to a philosophy of “the time is now,” living without limits but that lifestyle, I would eventually realize, was empty. And until I chose real healing.
Meeting the man who became my husband changed everything. Despite my diagnosis, he treated life with a simple truth: none of us knows what the future holds. When I worried about the risks of having children, he immediately brought up adoption not as a compromise, but as a possibility. His presence helped me see that life wasn’t just about rushing through experiences; it was about choosing what mattered. Together we embraced hope barely.
I left my career in emergency medicine and explored creative passions writing, acting, producing but nothing felt fulfilling. I was still untethered, focused on living for the moment rather than with purpose. It wasn’t until I became a mother at thirty-eight, through adoption, that everything shifted. Holding my daughters for the first time, I realized the depth my heart could reach the simultaneous joy, fear, and love it could contain. Suddenly, my purpose was clear. Motherhood gave my life meaning.
Motherhood brought with it exhilarating highs and terrifying lows. I had something to protect, and fear of loss was constant. Then, in 2017, my health took a frightening turn. Two emergency surgeries, ICU stays, and a rare intestinal complication nearly took my life. Lying in that hospital bed, I reflected on my life. The attempt to live without regrets had left me directionless. I realized it was time to live with intention, not just spontaneity.
Recovery took nearly a year, and during that time, I re-evaluated my priorities. I embraced motherhood fully, finished a long-planned children’s book, and launched an empowerment coaching practice to help others design meaningful lives. Living with intention became my compass: every choice, every action mattered.
In 2019, we moved our family from Los Angeles to the French countryside. It was daunting, even during a global pandemic, but leaning into our dreams allowed us to grow in unexpected ways. Our daughters have thrived, creativity has flourished, and every day reminds me of the power we have to shape our own paths.
I’ve learned that life is never without challenges, but even in uncertainty, we can act with courage and clarity. Living with intention doesn’t guarantee a perfect outcome, but it guarantees purpose. And for me, that has made all the difference.
