On August 3, many people across the country celebrated Esther Day, created after Esther Grace Earl, a 16-year-old whose life ended too soon after a battle with cancer. An active member of the YouTube community, Harry Potter fan, and overall adventurer, Esther serves as an inspiration to many across the nation. During her lifetime, Esther created a very special bond with author John Green. Many of you may know his name from "The Fault In Our Stars" and "Paper Towns." John Green, along with his brother Hank Green currently have a YouTube channel called Vlogbrothers in which they share weekly reflections with one another. John Green actually dedicated "The Fault In Our Stars" to Esther Earl. He wanted to embody teenagers that were defined by more than having cancer. They were young adults trying to figure out who they were while also battling a devastating disease. It was about making them human and flawed in their own way.
"Before her death, author and friend John Green told Esther that he and his brother Hank wanted to celebrate her birthday as long as there were vlogbrothers videos, and that the videos on that day could be about whatever she chose. After some reflection, Esther decided she wanted it to be a day to celebrate love for family and friends. So since 2010, August 3rd or Esther Day has become a holiday that reminds us to verbalize our love for friends and family, the important people in our lives who we might not remember to say “I love you” to very often."
–This Star Won't Go Out
I find this holiday so special because we celebrate love and, most importantly, life. We are reminded that what we have belongs only to our memories and the present. It is easy to get caught up in our everyday lives and forget simple things like reminding the people who form a special part of our lives that we love them. So today, pick up your phone, drive to your loved ones house, or send them a card that tells them that you love them...because it is never too late to do so.
As a result, a campaign to raise funds for families who have been affected by cancer has been created. If you would like to support the campaign, you can go to "This Star Won't Go Out." A novel has also been released with musings, stories and sketches from Esther. You better gather you tissues, because this one will make you shed a tear or twenty.
“I do hope that when the day comes, whether in 1, 10, or 100 years, I don’t want you to think of me and feel sad.”
–Esther Earl
