In the midst of a fellow student passing away and the countless acts of terrorism occurring across the globe, I have been given too many unfortunate reasons to reflect on my own life.
Our world has been surrounded by too much sadness during what is supposed to be the happiest and most celebratory time of the year. It is hard to enjoy the holiday season when we are constantly bombarded with news of death and acts of terrorism. It seems as though each day we are notified of another awful and heartbreaking event, whether it be on a global or local scale.
Of course, terrible things happen everyday – there is no denying that. But I've noticed these most recent events have caused people to band together in a more intense way. People have used these tragedies to create a global community. It is inspiring to see individuals from all over the world stand together, and I can't help but think that the strong sense of community has been encouraged by the holiday season.
It is especially relevant this time of year to reconnect with loved ones and spread joy to others, which is what makes seeing people from around the globe come together so emotional and inspiring.This is the season of giving and putting others before yourself, and it is refreshing to see everyone following through with that holiday sentiment.
I saw countless Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter posts focused on the importance of telling the ones you love what they mean to you – something we all often forget to do. You truly never know when you will experience your last day on earth and that is a scary truth we all choose to avoid, myself included.
I am not a very sentimental person. In all honesty, no one in my family is. It's how I was raised and I have always been okay with it. I love my family dearly, but we are not the kind of people who often express our love for one another openly. But this holiday season, I feel a bit differently.
Especially now that I'm in college and only see my family on occasion, the holidays hold a new meaning for me; a feeling that has only been enhanced by all of the global tragedies. I can't help but think of the loved ones of those who died that never had the chance to say goodbye.
This holiday, tell your family members you love them. Hug them even if they don't like to be hugged, and let them know how much they really mean to you. Whether you come from the kind of family that expresses these feelings openly or not, I urge you to just tell them your feelings. Sometimes, a simple, "I love you", is all someone needs to hear.
