A leap of faith
After having many surgeries, and surviving near death from breast cancer & sepsis, I was asked many times the following question. Did almost dying change you? Initially I hesitated, as my reflex reaction was “Why would it change me?” Yet, the reality was the answer was an absolute YES. Writing the book, The Scars you Can’t See helped me recognize how I changed. Writing help me heal, and at the same time helped me be vulnerable to a side of me that I never really “let shine”. Sure I had taken initiative many times in my life. I had joined many groups, and said YES to many volunteer opportunities.
However, nearly dying made me find a refined me. It made me realize who I am, what I believe in, and what I want my legacy to be about. We all have one fingerprint for a reason. There is no one who shares your fingerprint or mine. So, when I was near death, I prayed many times for my life to be spared.
As weak as I was, hooked up to multiple IV poles, I remember pleading, and begging. I remember rambling in my mind 100 miles a minute and saying, “ I want to see my son graduate. I want to see my kids get married. I want to see my future grandchildren”. The list went on and on. Lastly, I promised to serve.
Life is precious. It is given and taken away. I realized I was not in control. I realized that my number would be called when heaven calls my name. Now, I could be the voice for many who were not as lucky as I was. Now, I could work for everyone in my district. So, since I was given the opportunity to live, my compass was re-set on how I would serve in the years to come. I would be called to serve in ways I had yet to understand.
After serving seniors for 30 plus years, I took a leap of faith and announced my candidacy for House of Representatives for Minnesota House. Finally, I listened to the gentle nudging I felt for years to file for candidacy. The time was now. The time to serve was now. My healthcare and business experience gave me wonderful experience. Now, I will listen, learn, and lead in a new way to keep the values we hold dear in Northern Minnesota.
So, nearly dying was another life lesson. It taught me to take chances, it taught me to step outside my comfort zone, it taught me to do something I have never done. It taught me to say YES….YES to a leap of Faith. May you each find your YES on your pathway to healing. When we are forced to pause, and forced to be still, the answers find us.
Let your light shine brightly. Remember there is no one like you for a reason. Check out my new website coming the week of March 20th, 2022
www.natalieforhouse.com
One print. One life.
Natalie Zeleznikar