Skip to content

Don't miss out on new releases & updates - subscribe here!

Facebook Twitter Instagram Spotify YouTube
Anna Gomez Books
  • Home
  • Books
  • AboutExpand
    • Media Kit
    • Events
    • Gallery
    • Press
  • Books to Film
  • Christine Brae Books
  • ContactExpand
    • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Privacy Policy
  • Blog
Don't miss out on new releases & updates - subscribe here!
Anna Gomez Books
Christine Brae · I AM YOU, YOU ARE HER, SHE IS ME · My Books · Thinking Out Loud

Ode to A Life

You all know that I signed with Anvil Publishing for a new book entitled The Year I Left. As the title implies, this is a story about a woman’s struggle to choose between herself and the people she loves.

Death has affected me more than once. The most impactful loss was that of my mother seven years ago. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine a life, a world, without her. She was everyone’s ally, the life of the party, confident, secure, fun loving. Even when she fell ill, I thought she would fight with death, give it a run for its money. I never thought that death would win. Her zest for life was so strong, I thought she would overcome every threat that came along.

What happened to my mother shook me to the core.

Here’s the thing. The gravity of such a loss doesn’t really manifest itself immediately. I immersed myself in a huge project at work, thinking that if I traveled enough and kept myself busy enough, things would go back to normal.

It took months for my grief to show itself in ways that took over my life. I wanted to live. I wanted to start over. I filled my heart with regret and sadness and clamored to find what I thought I was missing. Whatever it was I’d given up by raising three children at a young age, I wanted to recoup, re-visit, re-capture. And for two years, I was stuck in a cycle of losing myself in….well, a person, people, things.

To finally admit my grief, to mourn my mother and address the issues facing me was the only way I was able to lift myself out of this funk and get my life back on track again.

Last week’s horrific tragedy in Las Vegas reminds me that life is truly vulnerable.

That we are all living on borrowed time.

Everything I am, all that I have, is fleeting and temporary. This life, this job, these people – they can all disappear in the blink of an eye.

So I have to ask: before I die, what can I do to truly live?

It takes a bit of selfishness to live the life you want. To take care of your needs, feed your heart with your personal hopes and dreams, love the person you want to, cry over the things you hold dear. You need to give yourself the time to cultivate your heart.  Allow it to choose who to love (even if just for two years), what to want.

I can honestly say that no matter how difficult life’s lessons have been, I don’t regret a thing.

The moments that define us are usually the saddest times of our lives, the actions we’re not very proud of, the people who have hurt us, the people who have made us whole. But to have these experiences, we need to be willing to close our eyes and put ourselves out there. Realize that there’s a life to be lived and we should be right in the middle of it. Let’s not waste time trying to figure out what others will think, what others might say.

We all deserve to have a great love story.

We sure as hell know how to write it.

Now, if only we could live it.

 

Post Tags: #be fearless#be yourself#epic love#inspiration#life#living#love#love story#theyearileft

Post navigation

Previous Previous
Never an Outsider
NextContinue
I Know.
Search

Welcome to my blog!

Subscribe for blog post updates

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
Join 33k+ other subscribers

Follow me on Twitter

Anna Gomez Follow

Right brained left brainer. CFO, Exec, CPA. Part time Writer aka Christine Brae. Kona Series 2021 @vesuvianmedia @rosewindbooks *IG:@annagomezbooks #filipina

AnnaGomezbooks
annagomezbooks Anna Gomez @annagomezbooks ·
20 Mar

Great job, @NetflixValhalla - you managed to grab all of my precious time this weekend.

Reply on Twitter 1637663372173889536 Retweet on Twitter 1637663372173889536 Like on Twitter 1637663372173889536 3 Twitter 1637663372173889536
annagomezbooks Anna Gomez @annagomezbooks ·
17 Mar

So proud of you, partner.

Kristoffer Polaha @KrisPolaha

Thank you @usweekly

https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/pictures/kristoffer-polaha-get-to-know-the-hallmark-channel-star/

Reply on Twitter 1636793651585069056 Retweet on Twitter 1636793651585069056 Like on Twitter 1636793651585069056 5 Twitter 1636793651585069056
annagomezbooks Anna Gomez @annagomezbooks ·
17 Mar

How many of you were like me - had your fix of corned beef and cabbage last night since today is Lenten Friday?

Reply on Twitter 1636736120493883395 Retweet on Twitter 1636736120493883395 Like on Twitter 1636736120493883395 5 Twitter 1636736120493883395
annagomezbooks Anna Gomez @annagomezbooks ·
17 Mar

I ❤️them. I do.

Gayle @meyer_gayle

Great interview! https://twitter.com/writing_show/status/1635606549275049984

Reply on Twitter 1636720659710476293 Retweet on Twitter 1636720659710476293 1 Like on Twitter 1636720659710476293 6 Twitter 1636720659710476293
annagomezbooks Anna Gomez @annagomezbooks ·
17 Mar

We released this little gem in October, 2022. And I know it’s still making its rounds to new readers. Please don’t forget to take the time to post your reviews. We’d love to hear from you!

Reply on Twitter 1636720428713406464 Retweet on Twitter 1636720428713406464 1 Like on Twitter 1636720428713406464 10 Twitter 1636720428713406464

Follow me on Facebook

Christine Brae

Subscribe to our newsletter

Everything. #livelikeannag #family #happybirthday Everything. #livelikeannag #family #happybirthday
Born exactly a year apart … Happy Birthday to th Born exactly a year apart … Happy Birthday to these two beautiful human beings! I am so proud and honored to be your mom. #livelikeannag #happybirthdaybabies
It’s Like - well, you know - getting into the co It’s Like - well, you know - getting into the cool kids club. 😍 oh and look at that knee! #livelikeannag
#TBT: 7 years ago, my self published book, Insipid #TBT: 7 years ago, my self published book, Insipid, was introduced to the world. I don’t regret writing this story even if it ruffled a few feathers. When you write for the right reasons, who cares? #livelikeannag #insipid2014 #christinebrae
Love means going to every single bar even if you d Love means going to every single bar even if you don’t know what’s happening in the Big 10. #livelikeannag #boilerup #ithinkthatswhattheysay #fanatic #chipsandsalsa
Happy 2nd Book Birthday, #momentslikethisbook! Cel Happy 2nd Book Birthday, #momentslikethisbook! Celebrating our stories and our friendship, @polahaha. Thank you for changing my life. #livelikeannag #fromkonawithloveseries #vesuvianmedia #rosewindromance

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • FAQs
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 Anna Gomez Books Design by Carrie Loves Design Studio.

Scroll to top
  • Home
  • Books
  • About
    • Media Kit
    • Events
    • Gallery
    • Press
  • Books to Film
  • Christine Brae Books
  • Contact
    • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Privacy Policy
  • Blog
Facebook Twitter Instagram Spotify YouTube
Search