As a whole and as individuals throughout this country, we have been shocked with many tragedies. We’ve had wars, we’ve had mass shootings, the 9/11 attacks and so much more. As individuals we struggle with losing members of our families, losing our friends and losing community members. Every single one of these losses is a complete tragedy.

The news of the Las Vegas shooting shocked many across America, as it was announced to be the deadliest mass shooting in America. As more information came about, we got slammed with death counts, photos and injury counts. I couldn’t help but wonder why things like this happen.

The news of the shooting made me recognize how insignificant my problems were. When I heard about that, some things I had recently been worrying about were now so seemingly silly. I realized what I was stressing about was absolutely nothing compared to these innocent souls who just lost their lives and their families and friends who were now trying to cope.

I couldn’t help but wonder what could possess someone to do something like that. To shoot rapidly into a crowd of people, not caring who’s lives they took. All of these people were someone's mother, father, friend, spouse, brother, sister - these people were everything to someone.

As individuals, we are all going to deal with some sort of a tragedy in our lives. I’ve dealt with them in mine. and I know many other people that have as well. I know people who are so sad and upset within themselves that they are willing to take their own lives. That leaves many to wonder what they could’ve done to help. If they would’ve said something different, or said something at all, they think maybe they could’ve helped.

We have tragedies that don’t necessarily come in the form of a sudden death as well. There are people we all know who are suffering from cancer, who have this incurable disease that they’d do anything to get rid of if they only could, but they can’t, and that is the tragedy in itself. People die from sudden heart attacks or from car crashes and leave an impact on many.

So many people have their lives so wrongfully taken from them and so many wish they could’ve done something to help. The truth of the matter is that for those left behind after any sort of tragedy, it never gets easier, but we all learn to deal with it and go on each day.

If you’re going to take anything from this, please learn this: value the time you have with everyone, because you never know when it’s going to be the last time. Use words that will only lift people up, instead of dragging them down. Most importantly, love and live to your fullest potential.

You are loved more than you know by one or many and your life matters.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK

Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-448-4663