To Be Kind, To Love, And To Be Present

After a week of stressing and being full of anxiety the most important thing I learned this week was not from my textbooks. The ISU community was reminded of how fleeting life is by a tragedy and the loss of a life that was just beginning. The heartbreaking accident of Emmalee Jacobs has stuck with me. Although I didn't know her my heart aches for the pain this careless act has caused. My eyes are wide open and my mind awaken by how much we take for granted in our daily lives. Because we never think that it's going to be us. We don't know though, but the one thing we can make sure of is that every day we do our best.

This year I have seen more people I love paralyzed by the sorrow of unfair circumstances. We are constantly reminded of the unjust and evil in this world, but we have an obligation as human beings, and it is simply this: to be kind, to love and to be present. These things all seem so obvious and yet we forget how the kind gestures are sometimes the light someone needs at the end of a bad day. Kindess costs us nothing and yet is scarce in some days, while hate costs lives and is thrown around without thought.

Love is a healing tool that is underrated because although it won't erase whatever may have happened it has the power to soothe, to comfort, and give hope for the tomorrow we all pray we are lucky enough to receive. We need to start letting love be the compass and driving force of our lives. When love stops being a noun and starts being a verb lives are enriched, hearts are fuller, and circumstances more bearable.

Lastly we must be present. Living in a time where being busy, sleep deprived, and overloaded with school, jobs and life it becomes a struggle to truly be present. Looking backward stunts your growth and looking forward creates a land of worry about something that is yet to come. Embrace the moment you are in now. Leave each day knowing the people in your life are certain they are loved and appreciated. Do not wait to chase your passions because if we waited for perfect timing we would be at a constant stand still. The time is now. Evil wins if you let it take away you being kind, loving, and present. We owe it to the people that were deprived of their tomorrow to not let darkness win.

With Love,

Jade Marie