A striking young woman singing “It’s Okay” on America’s Got Talent in 2021 offered a timeless lesson on Healthy Survivorship.
The usual pre-performance banter hit an awkward pause when one of the judges, Howie Mandel, asked, “What do you do for a living?” Jane, a 30-year-old singer who goes by “Nightbirde” calmly answered, “I have not been working for quite a few years because I’ve been dealing with cancer.”
Mandel stammered, “Oh! I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Jane says, smiling, It was more than just words to put them at ease. That phrase heralded her message.
Simon Cowell then asked how she is now. Given her smile, I imagine he expected a triumph story about being cured and moving on. Her appearance and demeanor belied the truth reflected in her scan results, which she reported succinctly and matter-of-factly, taking all the judges by surprise.
Nightbirde was about to sing what Jane wanted the judges, studio audience, and world to know about her…and about happiness. Watch the video to see why I keep the link under my “favorites” tab. Her other videos and interviews are insightful and uplifting, too.
Its important that everyone knows I’m so much more
than the bad things that happen to me.
You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore
before you decide to be happy.
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