How does one begin an essay on the topic of how precious your life is?
Everyone fights their own battles every single day. So I could start by saying that no matter what situation you may be in, everything will be okay. Or I could attempt to convince you that I know exactly what you’re going through. I’m sure these phrases sound familiar.
But the truth is, I don’t know what the future holds. And no matter how similar of a situation I may have found myself in during the past or present, I can never know for sure exactly what you’re going through.
But I can tell you this: you matter.
Sometimes, you may not agree. You may feel like you don’t belong, or that no one cares, or that it really doesn’t matter whether or not you exist.
These thoughts are simply demons that you are strong enough to fight, even if you don’t believe it yourself.
The woman that you smiled at out of courtesy as you passed each other on the street needed that smile to make it through the bad day she was having. You gave her encouragement. When your friend confided in you about his parents constantly arguing, and you told him you were there for him, he felt relief. You gave him comfort. The kids that you let borrow your old basketball played with it for hours. You gave them memories that will last a lifetime. Every conversation, laugh, smile, wave, nod, and glance that you have ever shared with another human being has impacted their lives. Nothing would be the same if you did not exist, and nothing would be the same if you chose to leave this world too soon. You are important, like a puzzle piece to a puzzle: without you, the world would not be complete.
At times, it’s easy to think that if you were to disappear, no one would really care. At least not for long. Let me assure you, nothing could be farther from the truth.
I once attended the viewing of an eighteen-year-old classmate who I hadn’t seen in four years. He tragically passed away due to suicide. We had never gotten along in elementary or middle school, and the last I saw him was our middle school graduation. Yet, I attended his viewing, and his death still regularly crosses my mind to this day.
People you would never suspect to care, do. People that you wish cared but you feel as if they don’t, do. People that you have never met before that have no particular reason to care, do.
You matter in this world, whether you know it or not. You serve millions of purposes that you know little of. Don’t give up. This life is worth living, even if you feel as if it’s not. Think of the thousands of days you have ahead of you. Think of all the people you could meet and all of the experiences you could have and all of the places you could visit and all of the accomplishments you have yet to make. There is so much more to live for than whatever has you down in this small fraction of time.
Remember these words the next time darkness clouds your mind. Take these thoughts with you as you live day to day, and let them remind you that you are important, despite what any bad thoughts have to say. Your life is indescribably precious — believe in yourself.
