It has always been a strong belief of mine that you should always be kinder than necessary. Even as a young girl, my parents always reminded me that whatever I do in life, to always show kindness. You really never know what other people are going through, or what they will go through in the future. And you never know how your life will change, too.

Well, you don't truly realize the impact of something as small as being kind until life hits you with something big. As many of you know, my friend Jackie passed away in a car accident last month. Jackie was what we on the church retreat team called our "light bulb". She was just one of these people that had a zest for life, and she carried that with her everywhere she went. And you know what I will always remember the most about Jackie? Her beaming smile, and the fact that she was always kind and genuine with everyone that grazed her life.

I've been planning out this article in my head for weeks now. Rehearsing the words in my head. Jotting on scraps of paper about what I wanted to say, and what Jackie would want me to say. Through my short nineteen years on this earth, I don't think any event has completely shaken me from my day-to-day routine than this has. It hit me like a ton of bricks that you can't ever really know what the next day or even your next breath can bring. And while we have all heard that before, it never really occurred to be how much truth there is in that. We all have this ideal map of how we would want our lives to go, but how can you plan out something so precisely when you don't ever get to see what the big picture is supposed to be.

I want to keep this short, sweet, and to the point. Over the past month, I think I have grown to appreciate life and the people I love more than I could imagine. Everything has been put into perspective, and I hope you as the reader may gain even just the slightest bit I what I have learned by reading this brief entry. Think about the things that matter to you the most. You probably think of family, friends, pets, etc. Now think of things that stress you out,or maybe make you angry. When you compare them to the things and people that mean the most to you, do those negative things even matter? What I hope you realize is that they really don't. That's what I have come to see, and I think that has made me a more gracious person in the long run.

I'll leave you with two songs that I think are worth the listen. Put aside ten minutes, close your eyes, and listen to the words. The first one is one that I have listened to every single morning on my way to work. It puts me in a good mindset for the day and is a daily reminder to be kind. So first take a listen to Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw. And then once you've done that, listen to I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack, because all who knew Jackie knows how much she loved to dance.

If I touched just a single person with this article, I feel I have done my job. Be kind, cherish every day, and remember Jackie.