It Is Okay It Is Alright

“You cannot wait until life is not hard anymore before you decide to be happy.”

—Nightbirde

This art letter is inspired by Jane Kristen, an American singer-songwriter better known by her stage name Nightbirde.

Nightbirde captivated millions with her heartwarming performance on America’s Got Talent in 2021. Despite battling terminal cancer, her radiant smile and uplifting song “It’s Okay” touched hearts globally.

Nightbirde’s story resonated deeply with me and taught me that true happiness is not the absence of problems, but the presence of a resilient spirit that chooses joy despite them.

But, choosing happiness amidst hardship does not mean ignoring pain or pretending problems do not exist. It means acknowledging the difficulties while also recognising the beauty and positivity life offers.

Life’s challenges are inevitable. We face personal struggles, health issues, financial setbacks, and emotional turbulence. Waiting for the difficult times to end before allowing ourselves to be happy, is a path to an endless cycle of suffering.

Nightbirde’s music, philosophy and way of living a life filled with hope and grace, showed the world that strength can be found in vulnerability and happiness can coexist with sorrow.

“I am so much more than the bad things that happened to me”, she said. So, let us take her words to heart and do not wait for life to get easier. Let us choose happiness; here and now.