It has been just less than two weeks since I walked across the stage at graduation, and in these past couple weeks, I have seen many of my friends post on social media about how happy they are to receive their graduation gifts. Now do not get me wrong, I loved my graduation gifts and all those who came to my party, but should we be becoming a society whose wants and desires create our happiness? In the past year, I have realized that there is more to happiness than just things centered on ourselves. I know this may be twisted to think, but the car my parents bought me for graduation does not make me happy. Yes at first I was thankful and appreciative of the gift my parents gave me, but my 2004 Elantra does not bring me happiness on a daily basis. On this day in 2015, my life was taken for a spin when I was given the news no 17-year-old ever wants to hear. That his neighbor and longtime friend Anna was killed in a car accident. Anna’s death made me think about all those moments we had together and trying to cope with her loss. In remembering the moments of hanging out at the mall after a basketball tournament, mini golfing with her and my neighbor, Emily, all the way to having her babysit my sisters and us messing around at my house. I realized that all these memories made me happy.

The small things in life really do matter. I learned from so many people like Anna that just saying hello and giving a smile goes a lot further than giving money or gifts. My generation has become so intoxicated with this idea of centrism that we forget what really matters in life. We forget that money depreciates, cars break down and clothes get too small or worn out, but family, friends and the moments we create with them never go away! We all only have a certain amount of time on this great Earth, so why does it matter if you get a new MacBook Pro? When the time comes, all our possessions will not fit in our casket. It is time for us to realize and take action. Go out and tell the ones you care about you love and care for them. Go make those moments with friends that five years from now you will still be laughing about, and lastly remember the moments you’ve already had. The real piece of happiness that never dies is the memories we make with the ones we love. Anna may be gone from this Earth, but she is not gone from the hearts she touched because the moments we had with Anna were truly filled with happiness. I have Anna to thank for pushing this philosophy on me. Little moments matter, and little moments make for a lifetime of happiness.