I think we forget to breathe. Our lives are in constant motion, people barely take time to step back and really take in what is around them. It is in those moments of stepping back that you can find your true character and see what means the most to you. It may hurt to be still and silent for a period of time but it is worth it to listen to the world around you.
Summer 2016 is one that I am trying to spend on the beach like anyone else. I am just about as pale as they come, but I try to get my tan on when I can. The last time I went to the beach it was really crowded, and my friend and I were sitting next to a mom and her daughter. For some reason, they intrigued me. I did not know why until later on when the mom said something that was just so eye opening.
The mom was about 60 years old and I believe her daughter was in her low 30s. Her daughter was pregnant and the mom kept talking about how excited she was to meet her daughter’s baby. I thought the conversation was cute, but her excitement did not seem out of the ordinary at the moment.
Later, as I was laying on my stomach on my towel, I heard the mom say something that sent chills through my body. I only tuned into her conversation like halfway through what she was saying, but I heard enough. She was telling her daughter how all of her friends and other family members were telling her not do anything alone and always be careful with what she did. At first, I was like, so what? That’s when she started talking about her cancer though, and my heart melted. It was not obvious that she was sick, so I did not see this coming.
She continued to tell her daughter that she refuses to live a life full of worry. Something could happen any day to her, and she was aware of that. Even with that knowledge, she argued that anything could happen to anyone. She refuses to live a life of fear and worry because that is no quality of life at all. She wants whatever time she has left to be filled with happiness and joy.
As an outsider looking in, I really commend her. I do not know where she got her mentality, but it is so strong and beautiful. This life has a lot to offer, but the wonders of the world will not come looking for you if you are not willing to search for them. If you do not already do it, start living and appreciating all of the things the world is offering you. Do not hide behind the shadows of fear and worry, but test your limits; prove yourself wrong. Take a risk, make a change, and shock the world. If a person lives in constant fear, they will not be living at all.
