At just 27 years old, Holly Butcher was forced to confront a reality that most of us are able to ignore for decades. Diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer, she spent the last year of her life grappling with her own mortality. In the quiet hours of the night, she began to write. The result was not a lament, but a powerful and clear-eyed letter filled with the wisdom she had gathered while facing the end of her life. On January 3, 2018, she posted this heartfelt message to her Facebook page. Less than 24 hours later, she passed away, surrounded by her loving family. What she left behind was not just a goodbye, but a guide for how to truly live.
Holly began her letter by acknowledging the strange and painful acceptance of her fate at such a young age. She shared her simple, unfulfilled dreams of growing old, building a family, and growing grey with the love of her life. It was a future she wanted so badly it hurt, but one she knew was now out of her hands. She was quick to clarify that her intention was not to make people fear death, but to break the taboo around discussing it. She wanted to encourage a shift in perspective, urging people to stop sweating the small stuff and to recognize each day as the precious gift it is.
Her advice was practical, born from the clarity that comes when time is short. She pleaded with people to stop complaining about trivial stresses like traffic, a bad haircut, or body insecurities. She urged them to instead take a deep breath of fresh air, to look at the blue sky and the green trees, and to feel grateful for the simple ability to breathe. Having watched her own body waste away, she emphasized the profound gift of good health. She reminded readers that the ability to work or exercise, often seen as chores, are privileges that should not be taken for granted.
Holly also challenged the materialism that often dominates our lives. She found it strange to have money at the end of her life, with no desire for new dresses or material things. She suggested that we redirect that spending toward experiences and kindness—buying a friend a coffee, cooking them a meal, or giving a plant with a heartfelt “I love you.” She advocated for valuing people’s time, being punctual, and focusing on genuine connection over the perfect social media photo. Her family’s present-free Christmas, though the tree looked bare, was filled with more meaning through heartfelt cards.
In her final, powerful request, Holly asked people to donate blood regularly, noting that every donation can save three lives. It was the blood donations of strangers that had given her an extra year of life—a year she was eternally grateful for. Her letter, signed off with “‘Til we meet again,” is a poignant reminder of life’s fragility. Holly Butcher’s voice may have been silenced, but her message continues to echo around the world, a timeless plea to live with more gratitude, less worry, and endless love.
