The Key To Being Awesome

I woke up this morning to some that kind of news that you dread getting. The one that drops your heart to the ground. The kind that immediately opens the water valves in your eyes. Its that kind of news that makes you ask "why" or even question your faith. Its that news that one of your dear friends had passed.

See, I don't do death very well. I am a terrible person when it comes to coping. I don't cry, I tend to run away. Today however, I woke up to a sweet message saying, "'Today is not a bad day, it is a good day to be awesome.' -Erik Gray Who peacefully joined his Father In Heaven at 645 am." I wanted so bad to cry. I laid there in bed thinking. About how I was just talking to him yesterday, and the first day we met. It was in a singles ward and he was talking to me about how crazy I was and how much fun I am to have around. Then he turned around and said, "MelFlo, you're awesome."

It wasn't until later that I learned about him and his cancer. It was in remission. He and I became friends, many many game nights. Then after we became official Facebook friends, I learned about his blog. You can read it here. It tells of his story much better than I ever could. I recall the day he announced that he felt as though no treatment was working, so they had decided to focus on pain management and being comfortable. I write that now and my heart sinks. I read of his decision and immediately called up Blair and started to bawl. "Its not fair. Not. One. Bit." I said. We talked about how it sucks. But more so how amazing he was. We couldn't think of anything but fun and positive times we had, and the many laughs.

See, I'm not going to say we were BEST Friends but we were fairly good friends. We talked often, if not every day from Snap Chat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, this blog or his. We were two souls who bonded through writing. I know he enjoyed reading my other blog, The Perfect Life. He wasn't shy to tell me about how he felt about my writing. And I loved his comments. I had posted about being twenty-something and not being married, engaged.... or even dating. And he IM'ed me just expressing how much he loved that post.

I had felt terrible that I had been complaining left and right for months, and here my cancer battling friend, tells me how awesome those posts were...? The last thing Erik told me was, "In order for MelFlo to achieve ULTIMATE Awesomeness, is for her to smile more. She's got plenty to work with." And I sent a snap chat back with the cheesiest smile you could imagine, saying, "like this?" it never got opened.

I said it yesterday, well this morning, Time is not a given or a constant, but what is a given, is the time you have before you. The constant is that time is ever changing from person to person. So, to honor my dear friend, Erik, I want to challenge y'all to do something. If you're a member of the church, GO TO THE TEMPLE. If you're not, DO SOMETHING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. #ErikGrayChallenge is what it was called. OR DO BOTH. He always said to keep running, I always got that message when I was at the gym, he must of known how bad I hated running.

He was Ultimate Awesomeness. Read his story, and then try to tell me you aren't moved to do something. The key to being awesome lies within his story. Never to give up. Never let the negative knock you down. But if it does, stand back up. The "key" is to find you and be that. Do what makes you happy. Be the person that makes tomorrow's person have to try harder to be better.

Erik, to the west is where I look for the happiest part of the day. You will be chilling up there with me. I'll save you a spot on the top of the Jeep. D&C 88:15 says, "Death separates the spirit and the body [which] are the soul of the man." Your spirit will be with many, for you touched so many hearts with your faith through your tribulations and trials. If even half of us who crossed your path become half as amazing [awesome] as you, this world would be a much happier place.

'Till we meet again dear friend.

xo,
Melanie Florence (MelFlo)