The world has been going through so much sadness these days, with the massacre in Orlando and the two-year-old being attacked by an alligator being prime examples. And while it’s common for us to want to do something to change the tragedies going on around us, there’s only so much we can do. Sometimes, we have to take a step back to look at what is going on around us in our own community to grow and build as one.

There have been so many deaths attacking my small community that heartbreak seems to be regular feeling. The sad thing is that these deaths aren’t just the people we know -- they’re our classmates, our friends, our confidants and our family. They come out of nowhere and get the people we can’t imagine being gone from our lives and at such a young age. We get left feeling sad and dejected with no way to go and recover.

It’s true that heartbreak is ever present and will never go away. But certainly, we aren’t destined to go through this all at once, right? Did the town really piss off God and karma so much that we can’t escape the fist of hurt? I don’t know about others, but trying to recover when I know something may happen the very next day is hard to do. My loved ones could be gone the next day and I may not have told them the funny story of the day, or what I had for dinner. Or that I love them.

But, recovering is necessary. It’s a long road and takes time. Family can help, friends can help, and even if you need it, counselors can be found. There are grief counselors, group counselors, family counselors and numerous other kinds of people that can advise someone on how to help themselves. It’s not the end of the world, and it will be okay. You are too valuable to be lost as well.

God is always listening, and if he isn’t the right person for you, there is always someone willing to be your saving grace. Namely, the person that you may have lost yourself. I can’t express how important it is to never give up hope. Because more often than not, it’s all we have left.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call 1-800-273-8255 or google the online site for a 24-hour chat room. You are not alone.