Today I am retired (which interestingly enough I still have a hard time conceptualizing) and I am writing full-time. To me, each day is still a work day, but it's a different kind of work day for me. I work at home, my hours are completely my own, and I feel complete, happy and satisfied with my life.

I would have never taken a leap into this field if it hadn't been for my grandfather. He has always been my inspiration in life, someone I looked up to...my hero.

In May 2007, my grandfather turned 90 years old. Just a few weeks before his 90th birthday, he was diagnosed with skin cancer. It was a dormant cancer that the doctor said may have been there for 10 or so years and had just recently started attacking his body.

After being diagnosed, he went in for surgery to have the cancer removed. A couple of weeks later, he turned 90 years old. I called him to wish him a happy birthday, and it was then that I realized that he wouldn't be with us too much longer.

You know someone's life is coming to an end when you have that talk about life. He said to me, "I don't care how much money you make in that job of yours. That's not who you are. You need to get on your path in life. You were once on your path before, but something happened and you got off. You need to get back on your path in life and become successful, and then, only then will you meet the person you will spend the rest of your life with. That is when your family will come. But until then, it won't come to you until you get on your path in life."

I responded to him, "Well, I think that if I could do anything in the world, my dream would be to retire and write full-time." He said, "Well, then do that."

I was an emotional mess after my grandfather and I had that conversation. I knew it was time to move on with my life and get back on my path in life, but I just did not know which direction I needed to go. I was confused, hurt, and in complete mourning, because I knew that my grandfather would die the first Saturday in June, and something told me that he knew, too.

When I got the call on Memorial Day that I needed to come home because my grandfather was asking for me, I knew it was time. He was going to die soon.

I spent three days by his side with the rest of my family who had flown in from all over the world to say their goodbyes. Not too many people have opportunities like this to have closure on someone's life. I am grateful that all of us were able to come together and say our goodbyes to him. That is definitely how he wanted things.

It wasn't until the funeral that I realized I knew what my path in life would be when the woman I considered a grandmother my whole life said to me, "Your grandfather always wanted to see you in the performing arts and embracing your creative side. That's what he wanted you to do."

In July, I knew it was time to retire. I put in my notice in August that I would retire effective on September 1. Since then, I don't regret my decision to retire and work at home writing my novel. I feel at peace with life being my own boss and doing something that I love.

I never would have done anything like this if my grandfather had not passed away. Losing him helped me to find who I really am, or at least be brave enough to face my fears and insecurities about living the dream.

Thanksgiving and Christmas 2007 are the first holidays without him. It's hard on all of us, because we miss him. We only hear him talking in our own memories about the war, what it was like when we were children, and saying "OH DOGGIES!!!" every time he opened up a present.

When I think about what I am thankful for this year, it's hard to answer that question, because life for me has changed due to a great loss. If anything, I am thankful for that talk we had on my grandfather's 90th birthday. It was in that moment that I began to truly understand who I really am.

Sometimes when something incredible happens in my life now, I have to stop and ask, 'Is that grandpa pushing that opportunity towards me?' When I talk about how much my life has changed after the loss of my grandfather, all I can say is that my life has become more amazing. I am more at peace with life, and I have absolutely no regrets. I appreciate life more. I understand the value of loving friends and family and celebrating the joys of life every single day.

I realize that life isn't just about dreaming. It's about living the dream.