Do We Ever Say Enough?

Lately I have been trying to think of a positive or uplifting topic to write about, or something with substance that will get you thinking until your eyes boggle out of your skulls. But not all in life can be beautiful and happy, and not all of it works the way we would like it to. Sitting in front of my computer with a heavy heart, heavy eyes and the comfy-clothes ensemble of sweats and a flannel shirt trying to make sense of the sick twisted game life can play. How those around us disappear within a split second and may never return shakes me to the bone.

One day you get that phone call, one day you experience that drop of your heart and you lose your breath and for a long moment, you will feel like time has slowed down and your face and body goes numb. At some points in our busy lives we have experienced loss and it’s an experience we will never forget and at the worst times be reminded of. I’m not sure I will ever accept loss in my lifetime, for it seems unfair and unjust and never the right person or right time.

The people we hold most dear are the ones I’ve come to find are the ones we take for granted the most. The ones we barely know we might secretly want to get to know better but we’re either afraid to take the leap of interest or even afraid that time is too short and that it won’t be worth it in the end. Death happens every day, every moment we are awake, sleeping, going to class or work, studying for that big exam tomorrow or late at night having a little fun. It can come at any time and doesn’t care what you’re doing, who you’re talking to or what video game you are schooling. Our lives’ candles are only lit for so long, as are our friends,’ our families’ and our pets.’
The last few weeks there have been deaths and disgusting violence within the state and even in our quaint town of Fargo, and it breaks my heart to read all of the stories online and in the papers. To see Facebook walls painted with loving messages – messages that person will never see alive -- about how much they were loved and cherished, I find it difficult to wrap my thoughts around. I find it even more difficult to keep a smiling face on, not knowing these individuals, but seeing the ones around me struggle to make sense of it all and trying to comprehend the details.

Others’ losses can be a wakeup call for everyone. Show those around you how much they mean to you, what impacts they have made in your life little or small. You will never know the moment they will leave or be stolen from this earth until they aren’t on the other end of that cell phone call or chilling next to you at your guys’ favorite spot to shoot the duce with. Embrace those that you can’t imagine your life without. You never know when you’ll never see them again to make them smile, hold them one last time, tell them the stupid things you got away with last weekend or reminisce in the good times you shared. Be sure to tell them how they make your day a little brighter just by being alive and breathing.

Suzy is a junior majoring in journalism.