Live Happily Ever After Now

Published April 4, 2025

You are not the one who died, so don’t live like you did.

This statement is not meant to punish you. Instead, it’s a reality check. Sometimes, the truth can hurt.

Rather, how about we live life to the fullest FOR our loved ones who have passed? They no longer live life here on earth, so why don’t we enjoy this beautiful world for them and us? We must “live happily ever after now.” Not when think we have healed. Not when we have X dollars in the bank. Not when we feel better and are “ready” to face the future.

If you’ve been following me, you know that I love to travel. Yes, traveling has helped me get through the many difficult “firsts.” Since then, it has been a way for me to live happily ever after now.

I just got home from a week-long cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world. The photo of the quote from Ferris Bueller was hanging above the entrance at their port station, as we all prepared to board the ship. I can’t stop thinking about it. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

I would have never known way back in 1986 when I saw the movie as a teenager, that a quote from it could impact my life almost 40 years later. Yes, a quote from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

We had the most amazing time! It was our spring break. But only my youngest son (Jonathan) and I could get away. My oldest was adulting with her career while my son in college had a different week for his spring break. Some others had talked about coming, but it ended up being the two of us. I asked Jonathan do you still want to go if it’s just us? He absolutely did so I booked it. I am so glad I did! We laughed a lot, ate way too much, watched some amazing shows and concerts, basked in the sun, met new people, and made lifelong memories together! We were living happily ever after now.

Let me just say that Royal Caribbean outdid themselves on this ship. Everything was state of the art from the entertainment venues to even the elevator system. There was so much to do! However, I was a little nervous at first about seeing families or big groups traveling together. Would we feel awkward being just the two of us? My new life is no longer that perfect family with the white picket fence and dog. That was me….until three years ago. Nowadays, I have to tell myself that I don’t need to fit that mold to be happy. There isn’t a “supposed to be” mold, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I can’t care about what others think. Neither should you.

However they train their crew, nobody made us feel uncomfortable. Our waiter and his assistant, who we saw every night, always made us feel right at home. Never once did we feel vulnerable. They never questioned why it was just the two of us. Not until our last night there, when we exchanged Instagram contacts to stay in touch, did I tell them that Jonathan has older siblings who couldn’t come, along with the fact that their dad passed away in 2022.

I actually had this plaque custom-made back in 2023. It sits in our family room so I can see it as a daily reminder.

I try my best to live out this quote, and I try to instill this concept in my children by my actions and decisions. I urge you to follow it as well. As with anything in life, you have to work at it. Be intentional about it!

I challenge you to follow it. I promise you won’t have regrets! I will leave you with this: Don’t just exist, instead go out and live the beautiful and amazing life you can have! Share this article with a friend and challenge each other. I’d love to hear from you! How are you going to live happily ever after now? Email me at inquiry@sincerelyjulie.com or on Instagram @sincerely_julie_joyful_living.