Christina Mirasolo

Presence & Show Support Earlier this year, I received a phone call that changed my perspective on life. It was late at night, and I was already in bed when my phone rang. On the other end was my best friend, Sam. We've been friends since sixth grade. The kind of friendship that grows beyond friendship and becomes family. She called from the emergency room, where she was sitting with her mom. Doctors had just told her they believed she had Stage 4 ovarian cancer. She wasn't calling for sympathy. She wanted advice. Knowing my sister-in-law works in the medical field, she asked where she should go next and what steps she should take. I remember hanging up the phone in complete shock. In an instant, everything that had felt urgent just moments before suddenly wasn't. For years, my identity had been deeply tied to my career. I was the person who always said yes. Yes to new projects. Yes to new challenges. Yes to working longer hours. I told myself that I would make time for myself later. I would make time for the people I loved later. I would slow down later. That phone call made me realize later isn't promised. Since that night, I've been learning to set boundaries and, more importantly, hold myself accountable to them. I've learned to stop working at the end of the day. I've learned to spend time doing things because I want to do them, not because I feel obligated to do them. I've learned that the people I love deserve the best of me, not whatever energy I have left after work. Most importantly, I've learned the value of being present. Sam has always been one of the most important people in my life. She's funny in a way that catches you off guard, with the driest sense of humor and an awkwardness that somehow makes everyone around her feel comfortable being themselves. Watching someone you love navigate cancer is heartbreaking enough. Watching them face additional hardships while fighting for their health can feel unbearable. As she works through treatments, she's also had to navigate unexpected financial and workplace challenges. The reality is that cancer doesn't affect only your health. It touches every aspect of your life. In the months since her diagnosis, our friend group has become closer than ever. We talk every day. We remind each other how much we love and appreciate one another. We make plans. We create memories. We show up. Because showing up matters. When I thought about what I wanted to write on myself today, the words "Presence & Show Support" came immediately to mind. Presence means making time for the people you love before life forces you to. It means putting down the phone, closing the laptop, and being fully there. It means recognizing that relationships deserve the same dedication we often give our careers. Show Support means turning love into action. As an event planner, I wanted to use my skills in a way that could make a tangible difference. Today, I launched the first fundraiser for Sam to help offset the financial burden she is carrying so she can focus on what matters most: getting healthy. When I clicked launch, I felt proud. I felt hopeful. I know there's a lot of work ahead, but for the first time, I felt like I was turning my concern into something meaningful. The future is uncertain. I don't know what lies ahead for Sam, for me, or for any of us. What I do know is this: The people we love need us now. Not when we finish the next project. Not when life slows down. Not when we finally find the time. Now. Because presence is a gift. Support is a choice. And neither should wait.