On June 2, 2012, there was a shooting in a crowded mall in
Toronto’s Eaton Center. Among the many
shoppers was 24 year old Jessica Ghawi.
She later blogged about her experience that day. She wrote, “I was shown
how fragile life was. I was reminded
that we don’t know when or where our time on Earth will end. When or where we
will breathe our last breath”
About a month and a half later, on July 20, 2012 a mass
shooting took place at a movie theatre in Colorado. A gunman walked into the
theatre and shot into the audience killing 12 people and injuring 58 others.
Among those killed was Jessica Ghawi.
Sometimes, people whom you have never met can touch your
life in unexpected ways. While writing
about the Toronto shooting, Jessica had written, “I say all the time that every
moment we have to live our life is a blessing. So often I have found myself
taking it for granted. Every hug from a family member. Every laugh we share
with friends. Even the times of solitude are all blessings. Every second of
every day is a gift. After Saturday evening, I know I truly understand how
blessed I am for each second I am given”.
Jessica lost her life to a senseless killing leaving behind
her thoughts which had a deep effect on me.
They made me stop and take a good look within myself. I was forced to
assess and reassess my priorities. What was important and what was not. Where I
really had to try harder and hold on to. Where I had to move on and let go. How
in spite of being busy I had to find the time for the ‘little things’ in life
which are in reality not little at all.
Life is indeed fragile. And in
the end, how we choose to live it, is entirely upto us.
And so today, I did the one thing that I had not gotten
around to doing this summer…..I took my kids to a movie. Those moments spent at the movie with them
today were indeed precious. And their excited smiling faces are the little big
things that make up my life.
Signing off with a prayer for the families of all those who
have lost their lives to senseless killings and this quote from Disney Pixar’s
movie Brave which we watched today.
‘Some say fate is beyond our command, but I know better. Our
destiny is within us. You just have to be brave enough to see it’
