Tragedy, “an event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe” as described by Oxford Dictionaries. Tragedies occur numerous times in each of our lives. These events don’t define us, but shape us, allowing us to become the people we are today. Day in and day out, we consistently think about those we have lost. We reminiscence on the memories we’ve had. We dream about how our lives would be different if they were still here. The people we’ve lost are forever in our hearts.

My mother was in college when she got a phone call with devastating news, news that stabbed her in the heart. The words from the other line couldn’t be the truth, but they were. Her father had passed away from cancer. I can imagine her releasing the phone, as the tears streamed down her face. I know he was a great man because he raised three beautiful children whom I look up to every day. Not a day goes by when I don’t think about my grandfather. I know that my mother, aunt, uncle and grandmother think about him constantly, 365 days a year, and miss him more than words can describe.

A friend passed away in a house fire in August 2015. My brother came up to me with tears in his eyes, voice stuttering as he tried to explain what happened. As he talked, I just stared. Tears were running down my face, but words could not come out of my mouth. I was lost, confused, and angry. I wasn’t close with this boy, but I was in school with him and hung out with him a few times. He was a well-known boy who was smart, athletic, and great all-around. His close friends are constantly thinking about him. Those who weren’t as close, but knew him, also think about him.

We’ve all lost someone who is close to us, a family member, dear friend, classmate, teammate. Though times are difficult without them, we must thank them. Thank them for the memories shared, for the jokes they’ve told, for the cries you had but their shoulder there for support, for the hands held during times of trouble. But most importantly, thank them for allowing you to become the person you are today. Those we have lost have shaped us to become stronger.

Tragedies and hardships affect everyone. How do we get through these hardships? How do we move on and continue to live our lives? Is there a reason to continue on our journey? The answer to each of these questions lies within ourselves. We must think about what the people we’ve lost would want us to do. Though they have passed away, they are forever with us. They have created memories that are embedded in our minds. In a life where tomorrow is not guaranteed, we must live by the moment. Realize that those we’ve lost are not actually gone. They are looking over us, proud of the people we’ve become.