In life, we are taught to make our mark, do something worthwhile, and change other people's lives for the better. As this has been instilled into my brain since the moment I could speak, I kind of swept this idea under the rug and focused mainly on my own goals. Throughout my life, I have been very close to my uncle, Mike. We saw each other on most major holidays and had the ongoing debate of OU v. OSU. (I had the 89-18 win/loss record to use as ammo, so it really was not a debate in my opinion.) He lived in Oklahoma City, while I lived in rural Oklahoma, so I was not too familiar with his personal life. All I knew was that every time I was around my Uncle Mike, I was happy and full of laughter.
In October of 2019, Mike and his wife were in a fatal car accident in Aspen, Colorado on their way home from vacation. They were rushed to the hospital in Breckinridge, Colorado. Mike had severe head trauma and suffered extreme internal bleeding. He passed away that morning with his wife by his side. When I got the news later that afternoon, I was walking back to my dorm on the University of Oklahoma campus. At first, I did not hear what my father was saying. My ears seemed to be ringing and I instantly became nauseated. I was shocked, standing in disbelief of the news I had just received. I started crying, thinking about all the times we had shared and all the heartfelt memories we had made together. I made arrangements to head home to be with my family during this difficult time.
As I headed into the church for my uncle's funeral, I took notice that I did not recognize a single face there, besides my immediate family. While we took our seats in the family section of the funeral home, I took a glance around the massive bowl-style seating arrangement. There had to be at least 800 people in attendance, standing room only. During the funeral, numerous people gave testimonies to Mike's amazing character, giving heart, and childlike happiness. Unbeknownst to me, Mike was involved heavily in his church youth group, despite not having any of his own children in attendance. He gave to numerous charities, donated his time at local soup kitchens, and worked hard to provide for his family day in and day out. My Uncle Mike was the epitome of using your life to make someone else's better.
My Uncle Mike left a legacy that I have decided to take upon myself. Though he was taken from this earth much too soon, he did the most he could with the time he was given. I believe in making other's lives better. I believe in having empathy, kindness, and caring about others and their situations. Compassion is very prominent in this story and in life. Although one life does seem minute in the grand scheme of things, the impact one can make on others is astounding. In the world we live in today, we need more people to care about others and be more willing to help them. We need to empower ourselves by empowering others.
