Life is crazy. It is full of ups and downs–good times and bad times–but one of the worst things in the world is when someone you love has an unexpected health problem. There is no way to prepare yourself to deal with all the emotions and the "what if" thoughts that subsequently occur. I never thought that I would find myself in this situation until my sophomore year of high school when my mom had a heart attack. When I found out the news, I was in such a state of shock. I was sad, angry, panicked, and worried. I just felt broken. Thankfully, my mom made it through that rough time and so did our family. Although she has had several complications since then, she is doing well and I am exceptionally grateful for that. The experience has been tough, to say the least, but I have gained many new perspectives on life that have helped me grow as a person.

1. Don't sweat the small stuff

I am naturally an over-thinker and make everything much more complicated than it needs to be. It was not until my mom had her heart attack that I realized that I needed to just let life flow. Things happen and some of those are not ideal. If they are out of your control, you have to accept them and continue to live your life. Life is too short and unpredictable to let unimportant things upset you.

2. Live in the present 

You never realize how important your friends and family are until there is a possibility that one of them could be taken away from you. This inspired me to live my life in a more meaningful way–making sure to spend more quality time with friends and family, doing things for myself, working hard to accomplish my goals, and simply having a good attitude.

3. Forgive

When someone hurts me, it is hard for me to move on and forgive, for the fear of them hurting me again. After my mom's health issues arose, I learned that forgiving–no matter the circumstance–is very important. Everyone makes mistakes and poor decisions at times, but that does not mean that you should hold it against them forever. Healing takes time and forgiving helps to accomplish just that.

Although I would never wish this kind of experience on anyone, it did help me to see that, sometimes, good can come from something bad. My family and friends have bonded immensely from what started out as an awful situation and have realized what is important to us.