Life is short. According to the CIA World Factbook, the average American has a lifespan of 78 years old. Let's be honest though, how many people do we really know that even reached that age? Regardless, we'll use 78. If you're around my age, that means about one third of our lives is already over. And if you really think about it, the last third of our lives will probably be spent not doing much because of old age. Which means the next 20 years or so are all we have left to really live. Now I want you to think a little bit more. What have you accomplished so far in your life? What have you really done to make a difference? Have you really affected the life of at least one person in a positive way?
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure we have all done good in our lives. In fact, there are some among us that have done amazing things in their lives so far and to them, I give my utmost respect and props. But to the general majority, little has been accomplished. If you are working to pay bills and to help feed your family, I give you the highest respect and pray that everything works out for you in the end. If you are studying night and day in hopes of earning your degree, I give you my best wishes and hope you see success soon. If you are out there in the Occupy movements, in nationwide protests demanding humanitarian rights, or just speaking out against injustice in your local community, then more power to you. Of course, some out there may not have the means or resources to do any of these things. The greatest thing they might've done is positively impact someone personally. Whether it be helping someone recover from a personal loss, or just be the one someone else looks up to for help.
This week, we have already lost two prominent names in the mainstream media; Smokin Joe Frazier and Heavy D. And now imagine all the other hundreds of thousands of lives lost every day. These people are someone's son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister, best friend. Some lived great lives and died in peace, others were never able to find serenity and died in struggle.
"People never get the flowers while they can still smell em." -Kanye West
That is a hard hitting line, if you ask me. We rarely appreciate what and who we have at the present moment. Wait. Let me rephrase. We rarely express our appreciation for who and what we have. We need to start letting people who are important in our lives know how important they are. We need to thank our parents for sacrificing so much for us day in and day out. We need to thank our siblings for being our source of confidence and also being there for us when we need it. We need to thank our educators (both academic ones and life ones) for giving us the knowledge to go far in life. We need to thank our friends for allowing us to vent to them and go to them to alleviate our stress.
It goes without saying that we should thank God for every single blessing we receive, whether big or small.
We also need to appreciate what we have. If you have a roof over your head, you eat three meals a day and you have clothes are your back, please don't complain that you have nothing. As cliche as this sounds, look at the citizens of Africa. No food, no shelter, no clothes...nothing. I dare you to go to the corner of an alley and live there for a full day without food or drink, or with barely any clothes to keep you warm. If you survive, be thankful. But remember the hardship you went through in just that short period and imagine how people live through that for months on end. If you have even the most bare necessities to survive, be thankful.
Again, this is just a reminder to everyone including myself. There isn't a moral to this story. My only wish is that this got the wheels turning in your head a little. That it got you thinking just a little bit. Life is short, take advantage of all the opportunities given to you. Live a fair life. Live a thankful life. God willing, you will live a successful life and you will live it to your fullest potential. Pursue your passion. Accomplish your goals. Live with no excuses and no regrets.
Peace and love.
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