Seize the Day

I believe in making the most out of every single day.

September 25, 2007. The day started out like any normal Monday would. I got up, went to school, and had just came home. I was spending time with my family, just talking and laughing together like we always do. I got a phone call from one of my friends, so I went in the other room to answer it. I could tell by the sound of her voice that something was wrong, but nothing could have prepared me for the next thing that came out of that phone. “I think Basha died” she said. I paused in complete shock and disbelief, and made her repeat the sentence. She said it again and I felt like I had fallen into a dream. The words were echoing in my head, but I just couldn’t comprehend them. She told me there was an accident where three high school seniors had been killed instantly when their car crashed into a tree, and she was afraid our friend was one of them. I felt my heart drop to the floor, along with my stomach. The next few hours were a total blur, as I frantically made phone call after phone call to find out if her fear was justified.

It was.

When I heard the news, my memories of times I had spent with Basha flooded into my head all at once. Feelings of anger, despair, and longing rushed in, and I collapsed into a pile of sobs and tears on the floor. I wouldn’t believe it. I couldn’t. Basha just couldn’t be gone; it was too horrible to be true.

Basha’s funeral was the following week. As I looked around at all the people that were there, I realized how many people’s lives Basha had influenced. Basha had founded his own nonprofit organization to help benefit cancer research, and was always looking for ways to help people. He had an amazing personality. He was kind to everyone, and always made people laugh. Most of all, he was motivated to better this world, live life to it’s fullest, and make the most of each and every day.

As I listened to the speakers, I asked myself, “what have you done that would leave your mark on this world?” I realized at that moment that I needed to change my thinking. I needed to live every day to it’s fullest, and be the best that I could be. Basha practiced this belief, and he had an amazing life, so why shouldn’t I?

I realized that I wasn’t doing enough with the time that I was given. To learn this lesson, I had to go through loosing an amazing person, but it changed my life for the better.

Carpe diem! Seize the day!

This, I believe.