No One Is Safe

I feel like every time I open Facebook or watch the news, I am faced with tragedy. Teen Dies of Suicide. Man with Child Killed in Daytime Shooting. Families Die in Helicopter Crash.

My heart breaks as I see all of these stories, and many others. I am reminded that tragedy doesn’t discriminate; everyone will eventually be directly affected by trauma.

I think it is easy for us to distance ourselves from the hard stuff. We like to tell ourselves that our lives are safe from danger.

“That teenager died because he was drinking and driving. I don’t drink and drive, so I’m safe.”

“That young girl died from a drug overdose. I don’t do drugs, so I’m safe.”

“That man died of lung cancer. I don’t smoke, so I’m safe.”

No one is safe. Tragedy doesn’t discriminate.

One day it might be your mom who has a lethal seizure while shopping for groceries. One day it might be your son who has a random stroke at work and dies. One day it might be your wife who dies in a car crash.

And one day it will be you. Death will take over your body without your permission. We cannot avoid it, and we shouldn’t take this life for granted. This life doesn’t guarantee a minimum age. Children will die with the elderly.

I had to learn all of this the hard way. My husband was the healthiest, most alive person in this world when I first met him. And then, without warning, he was diagnosed with bone cancer and eventually died.

Bad things happen. They just happen.

I didn’t write this blog to scare anyone, or to make anyone panic. I wrote this blog to remind others that life is unpredictable and fragile. We cannot stop the traumas from happening, but we can change the way we live in between and through the hard times.

“So I plea to you, do not wait to accomplish your dreams or wait to chase down what makes you happy. Do it today. Smile today. Laugh today. Make a difference today. Live your life today. Because there are no guarantees or second chances.”

-Me…at my high school graduation. I mean it now more than ever.