Once again I am confronted by the reality that ‘Life is so short’. Yes, it is. Life is short when it gets taken away without you being prepared. Then again, how can you ever be prepared for something like that. Every minute that passes does not come back – ever. So it would be wise for us to watch what we say and what we do because you can never take it back. Sadly, we live as if we can have many do-overs, little do we know that before we know it; we are running out of life.

In the past week alone, there has been many incidents of people losing their lives; whether it be accidents, terrorism, or natural deaths. And it hits you hard when the loss gets up close and personal with you. It’s sad when you hear of people passing away for any reason. When it’s tragic or senseless, you almost get angry as you feel it could have been prevented, but eventually you realize, it was their time according to God’s will. And when it hits home, you are in shock for a while and struck by grief, going through typical stages of loosing someone you care about. You may ask a lot of whys or you may feel guilty that you didn’t do your best or you might withdraw and get into depression. It is possible you may go through all of this until you learn to accept the new reality and find a way to live again. One thing for sure, you will never be the same. When your heart is broken because you lost someone dear to you, that piece remains broken, just held together by glue.

Every one grieves in their own way. There is no right or wrong way. It’s what you can handle at that dramatic time. And no one can judge you for it. However, people might need to intervene if grieving includes you going off the deep end. At this point, it would be necessary to protect you from your own self, because obviously you weren’t able to find that balance and you might need help with it till you find yourself again. Grieving is necessary in order to cope with the reality. When you lose someone dear to you, your whole life is upside down, you feel your life is over too. But somehow you find the strength to deal with it as you take it one minute at a time.  Eventually, you look back at that time and it seems so distant and unreal, like you were living in a dream.

It’s good to remember we don’t have all the time in the world. We are limited with time. Therefore we must live each day as if it were our last. We must say the I love yous and the I’m sorrys and the I forgive yous. We never know when our time will be up. That goes for everyone at any age. Life taught us that there are no exceptions and no one is immune. That’s why, we must not waste any more time running after things that won’t matter in the end. Things like power and wealth; these things aren’t as meaningful compared to love and health. Let’s focus on love more. That includes giving to others and making a difference in this world, as little as it may be. Put a smile on someone’s face, give your time to someone who needs it, help those who are in real need. Love your family, love your neighbors and most importantly love yourself. If you don’t know how to love yourself, how you expect to love someone else. If you don’t take care of your health, then what’s left of you to live your life to the fullest.

Indeed, life is so short, so don’t live it with fear. Don’t live it wishing you had done this or that. Don’t live it according to someone else’s wish. Don’t live it like it doesn’t matter which way it goes. Don’t live it because you have to, live it because you want to. Make the best of it, even when hardships come your way. Live it with its tears and laughters, with its pain and joy, with its ups and downs, with its days and nights. Live it all. Live it fully. And live it with no regrets. Don’t forget to appreciate the ones you love before the day comes and they can no longer hear you because once they are gone; it’s for good.