Pause and Reflect

Pause and reflect on school. Pause and reflect on work. Pause and reflect on fun. Pause and reflect on life. Life is precious...very precious. Everyday is a brand new day and you should always live your life to the fullest. Try to accomplish as much as you can in one day, because you might never know if you're called to enter a better place.

Last Friday evening, as I was checking my Facebook, I discovered that a few of my friends joined a group that particularly interested me. I usually do not care if my friends join Facebook groups because I find the groups irrelevant to my interests/needs. But this one group really interested me because it was created in the memory of someone -- of someone that I haven't seen in almost a decade, but the face and name I will always remember. So I decided to check the group out. Turns out she died that exact Friday morning from complications from cancer. I couldn't believe my eyes. My heart sank. I was in utter shock and completely devastated. This is the first time I can truly say that a friend of mine died from cancer. Of course, I've known people who have been affected with cancer and who've passed away, but she was the first person whom I've actually had contact with.

She was a young, vibrant and talented girl. Although I only knew her for 10 months, since we were in the same class together (she was in grade 7 and I was in grade 8). We sat across from each other in class and often shared dictionaries and Becherelles. We often compared homework answers, ate lunch together, traveled on school trips together, went to her old elementary school to pick up her brothers, and she even taught me how to play violin! I was touched by her kindness and gratitude. I truly regret not having to known her better or kept in touch (since I didn't attend the high school I was supposed to for French Immersion). But my hope was that through Facebook (since it was beginning to become very popular), that one day, we would be able reconnect again -- share how we were little mischievous kids. I guess I can never do that in this lifetime. But the next time I will be able to hear her sing (I read in the memories people left that she's an amazing singer) will be in Heaven.

My LiveSTRONG bracelet is more meaningful now, than ever before.