The Ones Who Watch Over Us | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

The Ones Who Watch Over Us

Those we have lost are forever in our hearts.

22
The Ones Who Watch Over Us
Diary of a Traveller

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.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

418
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

3903
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

2390
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

201740
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments