The Why

“It’s a good day to have a good day” became my family’s anthem in the midst of my dad’s two rounds with cancer. I’d say it to my dad before his doctor’s appointments. My mom would say it to him when he got down. My sister would remind him in our family texts. It became our family motto. I even made the phrase into a sticker and sent it to my dad for Father’s Day. 

 

The sticker was fun to create. Plus, more than anything, making it gave me a distraction. The first “good day” phrase in the motto has a background color of periwinkle. Periwinkle is the color of the esophageal cancer ribbon. The second “good day” phrase has a background color of grey, the color of the brain cancer ribbon. To my family (and others who’ve been through similar scenarios), the colors have deep meaning. To others seeing the sticker, it’s simply a nice, motivating phrase. I love the idea that it can mean different things to different people. 

 

I started to dream a little. . . what if. . . what if I could reach other individuals and families going through what my family was going through? What if I could encourage them a bit, when they needed it the most? What if my design was placed on a shirt? A shirt that others could buy and wear when they needed a little boost on a hard day. What if I was able to spread more awareness? What if I was able to start donating money to other cancer research foundations that are not heavily advertised? What if they do not have to feel so alone during such a terrifying time? What if?

 

With some inspiration from two of my closest friends, I decided to turn what if into reality.

 

No matter what you’re going through, I hope this phrase means something to you. I hope it inspires you. I hope it helps you find something good in every single day. 

 

Oh, and one more thing—all of the profits from every “It’s a good day to have a good day” shirt and sticker will be going to different cancer research foundations. 

 

I hope you have a good day. It’s a good day to have one. 

 

—Emily