What a smile taught me (A eulogy for a friend)

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I deeply believe that this world is full of people that go well beyond what I have imagined, sometimes even more. That’s why we love to recognize the great warriors that walk this earth.

Yesterday, I found out that a great warrior lady has passed away. As you may understand my heart is filled with sadness right now, but instead of just feeling sad around my place for the rest of the day, I have decided to share with you what she taught me.

The power of a smile

She truly taught me the power of a smile. She was always smiling, even when she was really conscious of her condition.

Even when pain or difficulties were there, ever present in her life. She was always kind enough to gift me a smile.

She was an integral part of the day that Enso Journey, as a concept, was born. It was born out of her smile.

It was funny, because the day I met her I wasn’t welcomed with a smile. We were back in college and we were forced to be part of the same team. She was unhappy with the idea, I thought I would lead anyway. Chaos ensured.

It was long after we finished school that we truly started sharing our experiences. She was a great graphic designer, a freelancer at heart. Perhaps she had always been free.

We encouraged each other to leave our jobs, to seek the world of entrepreneurship.We took different paths.

It was not long ago that we both came back with great news, her graphic design agency, GIK Diseño, was truly taking off with the help of her long time friend Kimy. They made an awesome team and I was always telling her that she would truly achieve her dream of having a great design studio. The reality is that it was already great.

She always encouraged me to launch this website and I did. She was one of my first readers and perhaps the first one to complain that I wrote the whole time in English. We would talk about my choice for a long time on the phone.

Now that she is gone, her journey takes a turn where we can no longer follow her. I guess she will be in company of more great warriors that have passed away.

Now we are left here only with her legacy. It may not be huge, you may have never heard of her. Her teaching didn’t need any word.

She would smile and melt my heart. She would smile and I knew I had to fight harder. She would smile and I would know that I had to be a better person. She would smile and I would know that I had to get up and move on.

Now, it’s not the time to stop. It’s the time to keep moving and fighting. It’s the time to keep teaching the same thing that she taught me without words.

You can be a better person. You can improve yourself. You can reach your dreams. You can be happy even when life throws every curve ball at you. You can be just as you want to be.

I believe in you. She would have believed in you.

So my friend, Giselle, wherever you are now, know that I will keep fighting, I will earn the title of warrior each and every day. Because your smile taught me that I can be better.

And that smile will be forever with me.

Rest in peace my dear friend.

That lovely smile changed my life in so many ways. Thank you Giselle. Rest in peace.