We Should Not Take Life For Granted
Cherish it while you can.
Yesterday, I was scrolling through my Instagram Stories when I saw the terrible news — Cameron Boyce, a beloved Disney Channel star, has passed away in his sleep at the age of 20. He acted as Luke, a character on the popular Disney Channel show, JESSIE, which aired from 2011 to 2015.
As a young teen, I loved JESSIE. In fact, I was obsessed. It’s about a high school graduate who became a nanny for this rich family that has 4 kids and a butler. They go through many ups and downs but they all rely on each other for support and it was quite a heartwarming show.
During those 5 years, I had watched every single episode. I even read the episodes’ descriptions on Wikipedia and played the official game on Disney Channel’s website. Needless to say, this show played a huge role in my early teenage years.
And, boy, Luke was so charming. It’s embarrassing to say that the 12-year-old me would squeal in delight whenever Luke came on screen. His black curly hair, his gorgeous eyes and not to forget, his cute iconic freckles, were enough to swoon me over.
But now, he’s gone.
He went to sleep and he’s never waking up again.
According to various news articles, he died due to a seizure that was caused by an ongoing medical condition that we don’t know he had. When I first heard the news, I was in shock and disbelief. How could this happen? He was so young and had a bright future ahead of him. I’m beyond devastated. I can’t imagine what his families and friends are going through right now.
And that was when I realised how precious our lives are.
At any moment, I could potentially lose someone I know. At any moment, I could die and leave this world forever. At any moment, tragedy can strike and there’s no way of predicting when and how it will happen.
Hence, just like the title says, we should not take life for granted. In this day and age, we are constantly swarmed with huge piles of workload that seem to be neverending. As such, we tend to forget that life is more than just completing assignments and pitching ideas to your bosses. We need to slow down and see life for what it truly is.
Life is a gift and we should not waste it.
Here are some ideas for you to reclaim your life back.
1. Appreciate your loved ones
When was the last time you’ve said, “I love you” to someone you love? I bet you don’t say that enough, do you? Often, we’ll meet our families and close friends regularly and hence it is expected that we will see them again soon.
However, what if there is no next time?
Tell your loved ones that you love them and that you appreciate all that they’ve done for you. Spend not just time but quality time with them, even if it’s just a minute.
2. Reconnect with your long lost friends
With social media at our fingertips, it is very easy to find your old friends on Facebook or Instagram and reach out to them. Yes, you two may not have spoken to each other in a decade but it’s nice to catch up after so long. You can laugh about all the stupid things you two have done in the past and bask in the warm feeling of nostalgia.
Who knows, maybe the friendship can blossom once more.
3. Do the things you’ve always wanted to do
It’s time to bring in the Bucket List. In the movies, a Bucket List tends to be filled with crazy and extreme things. #yolo. However, this is real life. Let’s face it, not all of us have the opportunity to go skydiving or travel around the world due to resource constraints.
All I’m saying is that if you have the chance to do the things you’ve always wanted to do, then go for it. If there are no constraints, the only thing that’s stopping you is yourself. You keep saying excuses because a) you’re too lazy or b) you’re simply too afraid to do it.
Start small then. Take small steps so that it’s not too intimidating for you. If you’ve always wanted to volunteer at a dog shelter, then go fill up the application form right now. If you want to run a marathon, you can sign up for a 5K first and slowly work your way up.
4. Get out of your comfort zone
Don’t be afraid to explore other options. For example, if you always order your favorite ice cream flavor at an ice cream bar, try the flavor-of-the-month instead. It’s simple, right? You don’t have to step so far out of your comfort zone, just do something different than what you normally would. Switch up your routine once in a while. You would be surprised by how many things you have missed out just because you stick to your favorites all the time.
All in all, it is only a matter of time when our lives will come to an end. So before death catches up to you, take some time to appreciate the people and things around you.
You may have one chance to live, but you have so many chances to change the way you live.
RIP, Cameron Boyce. You will be missed dearly.
