It takes a Tragedy

Wow. You know all of those terrible diseases and accidents that you hear about on the news or just around? They make you shudder for an instant, but it's ok, because it would never happen to you right? Wrong. Recently I found out that the mother of a classmate of mine had Stage 4 lung cancer. I don't really know her at all, but from what I've heard, she's a selfless, kind, energetic woman The scope of the tragedy is just so enormous that I didn't really comprehend the impact of the situation. People around me would talk about it, and cry about it, and through it all I'd just talk about it like it was any other conversation topic. In retrospect, I'm disgusted by my behavior. How could I be so heartless? Maybe I just didn't want to admit that it could really be happening. I don't really have an excuse for myself.

Just now it smacked me hard in the face, the most brutal reality check I have ever received. It just really hits home for me. Like I mentioned earlier, I'd hear about things like that on the news, but I'd figure it would never happen to me, or anyone I loved, or anyone I knew. Because we were all invincible. Right??

Now I see that that facade has been shattered. Completely. Not a shred of protection shielding me from the cold face of reality. It CAN happen to those around me. They, and myself, are just as mortal as everyone else in the world. And it makes me afraid. At the same time it empowers me with a certain boldness. With the knowledge that we only have so much time to live and we should live it to the fullest dissolves some of my fears. It makes me want to hold those that I hold dear, hold them tight. Tell them how much I love them, tell them how much I care. Tell them how much I appreciate them, how much the brighten up my life. Tell them how much I'd cry, if they were ever to be gone. Because really, what makes them different from my classmate's mom?

Life isn't to be taken for granted, as we often do. We waste time, prance around, thinking we have all the time in the world. We do, and we don't. It's true, we're supposed to have a long time to live. Slow it down, enjoy it. But at same time, it can be taken away in an instant. As someone once said, "Someday your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's a life worth watching." Live life to the fullest. As another friend once said, "Life is short, break the rules, forgive sooner, kiss slowly, laugh without control and always keep smiling! Maybe life is not the party that we were expecting, but in the mean time, we're here and we can still dance....."

Think about the little things in life too. Maybe you don't think a teeny act of kindness to brighten someone's day or a simple compliment or attempt to reach out to that one boy or girl who doesn't talk too much isn't a huge deal, but maybe it is to them. Maybe you come just in the nick of time to turn land a huge smile on their face and turn their day around. Or maybe you give that one shy guy or girl enough confidence to burst out of their shall. You never know. Never squander an opportunity for kindness. It's the small things that make all the difference.


"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a
smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the
smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life
around."



That's almost everything I have to say. I feel emotionally exhausted.


God bless her and her family. May we hope she and the family can make it through. God bless them all so so so so much.


Love all you guys. Much Much Much Much Much Love.




As I now know, It takes a Tragedy.