Lately, I’ve been feeling as though I’ve been handed back my life and given a second chance to rethink my future.

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” — Steve Jobs

As Steve Jobs says, it’s easy to connect the dots looking backward, but it’s a blur looking forward–kind of like driving straight into a snowstorm. But you can’t live life looking backward, so you need to learn to trust in something. For me, that thing is my gut instinct. I haven’t listened to it enough in the past.

You know how sometimes you read exactly the words that speak to your heart? It’s as though a higher power places them in the exact spot that will meet your eyes. Well, the other day I came upon such a quote on FaceBook—something about how it’s okay to walk out of someone’s life if you don’t feel you belong there anymore. These words soothed me and helped me realize this is exactly what I’m doing. It’s okay to say goodbye when your time in a relationship has come to a close. But it’s not as easy as it seems.

And yet, it’s even easier than I thought it would be.

In the past few weeks, I’ve also noticed second chances in other areas of my life. I wonder how many of these second chances I’ve overlooked because I’ve been busy bulldozing through life.

Look around at opportunities for second chances that might be popping up in your life. You’ll be surprised.

1. Good health keeps your options unlimited. Lord knows I hate limits. Anyone who’s ever had a serious illness knows the stress of waiting for diagnosis or updates on a condition. As you know, almost exactly seventeen years ago, I was diagnosed with carcinoid lung cancer. Two weeks ago, I got called to the doctor’s office after a blood test. I panicked for three days, always fearing the worst. It turns out my iron and potassium are low. (Thanks for that, Grandma Thibault!) I’m not dying. It made me re-evaluate how important leaving a relationship really is in the long run. I’m alive, I’m healthy, and I’m taking my iron and potassium pills—just like Grandma did.

How could I not feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life? I will no longer let stress control my health, but try to make sure to live as health-consciously as possible. I will love my body properly and take care of it so that I don’t need to panic when I get a call from the doctor.

2. True friends make life more enjoyable. If you have true friends, they don’t mind when you disappear and always embrace you when you return. I’ve been touched by the support and encouragement of my entourage of friends. It’s as though I never left the fold. It warms my heart to know that all along, they’ve been missing my presence as much as I’ve missed theirs. I’m getting my groove back and making new friends along the way. The cage door is open, but all along it was only latched and never locked. I was the one who put the latch there in the first place.

I’ve been given a second chance and absence has made my heart fonder than ever. I will remember that I deserve to spend time with the people who love me. I deserve to dedicate portions of my free time to the people I love. Life without laughter quickly becomes desolate. I deserve more than that.

3. Passion is catching. This is something I’ve been doing properly lately, but it was almost exactly two years ago that my son prodded me back towards my passion—writing. I’ve embraced the writing life more and more as these two years have gone by. I’ve made new friends who are writers, and it’s opened up a whole new universe. My writing friends stoke my creative fires, and the passion spreads quickly. A week ago, a new friend and I outlined a plan for our writing group. (Hi, Kim!)

Thanks to my son’s encouragement, I’ve been given a second chance at happiness. I’ve been able to share my stories with friends and family who had no idea that I have a writer’s soul. Writing brings me joy and eases my over-active mind. I  thank all of you who support my efforts.

4. Family is a crucial part of life. I’m excited about my renewed relationship with my sister and for the chance to meet my half-sister in a couple of weeks. Family has always been important to my life, but I haven’t made enough time. I feel as though I’ve been given a second chance to do things properly with my sisters.

It’s time to get over silly preoccupations

Time, past grudges, distance—I will no longer let these things impact my relationships with family. I am learning how to be more humble and more forgiving. Let me know if I owe you an apology—I’ll add you to my list ;).

Take a look around at your life. What second chances are you          overlooking? What are you going to do to make the most of these       newfound opportunities?

While you think about it, check out these quotes on second chances.