How often do you think about death? Morbid way to start an article, yeah?

But honestly, does death take up space in your mind? Do you ever think about it or are you desensitized towards it? I often think that as children and young adults we don’t really realize how real death it unless we have had first-hand experience with it or know someone who has.

That death is something that happens to people in the movies or it is something that is more of an “adult issue.”

Recently, it has become very evident to me just how real death it. That in a way, we live to die. That we are really not here for very long when you think about time and the infinite magnitude of the universe. Too deep and philosophical, yeah?

However, this deep train of thought sparked something in me. It sparked a new desire to make my life here count. To make an impact in this life. And more than anything, to love those around me well and often. The world is a broken place – full of war, emptiness, and sadness. However, there is still good.

Someone once told me that as the bad gets worse, the good get better.

How simple, yet powerful is that. There is still goodness in this world and it is a present, powerful force. So, use your short time on this Earth to utilize that goodness. Tap into the beauty and kindness that this world does still possess. Just look around you right now, wherever you are and pick out three things that are beautiful. Believe me, there is beauty everywhere.

Be kind. Be brave. Take risks. Do what you love. See places and meet all kinds of people. Learn and absorb as much as you can. Drink lots of coffee. Laugh. Drink lots of wine. Exercise. Eat healthily. Also, eat a good number of cookies. And the most important thing of all: love those around you. Tell people you love them and tell them as often as you can. For death is very real and we really do not know when our time will be up.

Time and life are fleeting. Catch it while you can.