It is something that is often overlooked but in a moment can be gone forever. Every living thing needs it, and every living thing only has one. For something that is so common, it is also very special and a precious thing to behold. It might be the greatest, most spectacular thing in this universe, or any for that matter. It is life.
Yet, life inevitably brings death which may be the worst thing in the universe to at least some people. However, it is also necessary because without death, life would not be possible. When one being dies, another can live. We like to call this the "circle of life" even if it's not necessarily a circle. Life depends on death to continue and death can only happen when there is life.
With all of the death in the world these days, it sometimes seems that we are immune. It always happens to someone else, someone distant, with little effect on our own lives. But when it hits closer to home, you feel it even if you are not directly affected. These moments are the ones that make you realize just how special and fleeting life can be and how suddenly death can find itself at your door.
As we sit mourning those who are lost, we cannot forget how to live. We cannot forget that the sun will keep rising and our clocks will keep ticking. And while we should never forgot those who are gone, we also must accept that the world will continue on just fine without them.
Whereas it may seem that such lives are gone forever, the truth of the matter is that a part of them live on within your mind, heart, and soul. You will never find those whom you have never known within yourself, but those that you have will always be there. Every person that you can put a face to has left a mark on your very being itself. To find someone who is physically gone, all that you must do is turn and look inside yourself to find him. Studies can show that your friends affect your behavior, but you don't need a study to know yourself and see how you change throughout the years based upon those who have left a mark on you. And if you ever have a longing to see that person again, just look at the part of himself that he left inside of you.
