It is safe to assume that almost everyone knows of the recent, most tragic event that happened on Nov. 13 in Paris, France. Parents, grandparents, siblings, extended family, friends and strangers all share a heavy grief for the lives lost and the ruins that followed.

I am a stranger to the people who were killed on that day. I did not know anyone there, nor was I even in the country at the time. Yet, I hurt beyond belief for them, and for their families and friends. I wish happiness and peace to be with their loved ones again one day, but I know they will never be the same. And so, I wonder, how will the parents move on? How about the brothers and sisters who will never get to hug their sibling again? How about the partners of all the victims, who will never get one last kiss? These individuals were blindsided by this attack. How could they have guessed the last conversation, the last hug, the last kiss was actually the last?

From this gruesome strike against humanity, we experience all sorts of different emotions. I am angry. I am disheartened. I am petrified for what may come as a result. But among all this hurt, confusion, and pain, there is a lesson that can be learned. Live each day for what it is. The most terrifying nightmare is never planned, and we never think that it will happen to us, to our family, to our friends. And then it does. With so much chaos, misfortune, and terror in this world, we need to be more grateful. We need to not live for tomorrow, but for today and for the moment. Be spontaneous, be loving, be kind.

So, go call your parents. Call your grandparents, your friends, your favorite high school teacher, your neighbor down the street. Don’t let them go to sleep at night not knowing how much they mean to you. With our world in shambles, why risk the people you care about doubting how much you love them?

Nothing but time can ever heal the hurt of all those affected by the recent attack. But with Thanksgiving in just a few days, let’s show our support and do our best to stop taking precious entities for granted. Be thankful, be appreciative, be kind, today and every day. Together, let’s #PrayForTheWorld.