Shootings. Car accidents. Cancer. Natural disasters. The unthinkable.
In the age of social media and instant connection, we witness life-changing moments unexpectedly happening in the blink of an eye throughout the world. We see it happen to other people, people we don’t know.
“Never me,” I think to myself.
But reality is, it is happening everywhere, every day, whether it is by accident or intention. From GoFundMe accounts scattered through Facebook to news anchors replaying crime scenes for viewers, you hear names, memories and life stories condensed down to a paragraph of the people who were tragically stolen from the world too soon.
The older I get, I realize how truly beautiful but heart-wrenching this world is. An invincible mindset has gradually transitioned into a worrisome and numb outlook. Fearful thoughts run through my mind in crowded places, whenever I get a missed call or hear the sound of an ambulance.
As the “percentage” of people who face tragedy slowly inches closer and closer into our lives and homes, we can’t help but think, who is next? Will it be me, my friend or even my neighbor? Every week we hear of stories personally or on an international scale of tragedy happening in cities, large and small.
It’s unavoidable, but in a world of bad news and heartbreak we must learn to stay positive and cherish the moments that are guaranteed — the present.
"Senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised, not one day,” writer Lin-Manuel Miranda said.
Tomorrow isn’t promised, but love is endless.
Love the people you’re surrounded by, love the little moments, love the life you live.
Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.
We must live every day to our full potential and gracefully fall asleep at night with a genuine smile on our faces and hearts that flutter — knowing we did the best we could and made someone else’s life even more worth living for that day.
It is so easy to get caught up in the rapid pace of life: work, paying bills, studying, fitting into society and an endless list of other pressures. It’s time to take a step back and breathe.
As individuals, we control our own happiness and how we make someone else feel. Smile at the person you pass in the street, sing loudly, write a love letter, dance in the rain — no matter what it is that helps you radiate positivity, do it.
Focus on what is important to you and then give it your all, because it could be gone tomorrow. Drop the worry, be happy and live out your dreams.
As you roll out of bed tomorrow morning, remember that someone wasn’t lucky enough to hear their alarm or get another good morning kiss. Devote your day to make life and the world a better and beautiful place — every ounce of effort can make a difference and restore hope.
