In Memory Of

"You can be the most beautiful person in the world and everybody sees light and rainbows when they look at you, but if you yourself don't know it, all of that doesn't even matter. Every second that you spend on doubting your worth, every moment that you use to criticize yourself; is a second of your life wasted, is a moment of your life thrown away. It's not like you have forever, so don't waste any of your seconds, don't throw even one of your moments away.” 
― C. JoyBell C.

“Most lives are not distinguished by great achievements. They are measured by an infinite number of small ones. Each time you do a kindness for someone or bring a smile to his face, it gives your life meaning. Never doubt your value, little friend. The world would be a dismal place without you in it. (tweaked version of a passage from Scandal in Spring)” 
― Lisa Kleypas

"Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." -Plato.

Sometimes, you meet someone who absolutely annoys you. You cannot explain why, but they just get under your skin and you find it hard to be patient with them. Then, suddenly, there is a moment when they begin to grow on you and you find yourself enjoying their company. You suddenly see a piece of the real person that they are and completely forget why they annoyed you in the first place. This is how I will always remember Colin.

His nervous smile lit up the room and his scattered way could be mistaken for charm all too easily. Deep down, he was a beautiful soul. Colin a truly a small boy, stuck in a man's body. He had no idea that the very thing he turned to, thinking he was free, would be the very thing to take his young life.

Under the layers of chaos lied a hopeful heart that was full of dreams that will never be seen.

When you strip away everything and the anger leaves you, you can only hope that he knew his worth, if only a fraction of it, before he died. You can hope that one life will change and that one person will put down the drugs. You can properly grieve this young lad, knowing that you were lucky enough to cross his path and see him for who he was and not for his addiction.

We can never know how long we'll know someone or what will come so if I can, I want to encourage you to love deeply. Tell those close to you that you care about them. Don't wait. We are never promised another moment and the choices we make can have a huge impact. So, don't assume that you have tomorrow, but live abundantly-learning from one another and loving fully.