What Really Matters?
On September 18, 2010, the world lost a great human being. It lost a sister. A daughter. A promising student. A dancer. A laugher. It lost someone who wasn’t afraid to do what she wanted, someone who didn’t mind standing out. It lost someone that loved life and lived it to the fullest. It lost someone that was a friend to everyone, and enemy to no one. It lost someone who laughed and made smile, and rarely induced a frown. We all have memories with this young woman; we all will remember her forever.
It’s unfair to think that someone so young should be taken from this earth. Someone with so much ahead of her. Someone destined to do great things. Someone with promise in whatever she pursued.
When such a horrific accident occurs, it gets one thinking, what’s next? How does one move on from such a tragic catastrophe? The answer is by doing it together. Together, we can remember her in a positive light. We can remember her for the way she made us all laugh. The way she all made us smile. The way she was so real, so real to all of us. The way she would want us to remember her. We can remember to live as she did.
Although this incident is horrible, there are some positives to take away. We all need to remember to live with character. You never know what day could be your last, what emotion could be your last, what words that you speak to someone could be your last. Why live in anger? Why live in disgust? Living with character not only makes you feel better, but also makes you more enjoyable to those around you. Why be remembered for being negative? Why be remembered for being ‘that guy’ that is always starting fights or being mean?
As much as “No Regrets” and “FTH” are cliché, it’s times like these that make you realize how true they are. Don’t hold back, don’t leave anything out in limbo. Make good decisions that you are sure of.
She was an incredibly positive girl, and I hope that all of us can live half as optimistically and enthusiastically as she did.
While it’s hard to focus on anything but her tragic finish, we must remain strong and look ahead. We all have things going for us as well, and we can’t let this tear us down. We should use our memories of her as motivation, not as excuses not to succeed. We are all here for each other.
And as we go on each day, each hour, each minute, may we all remember this loss for the positives, not for the negatives. Stay strong everyone. Much love.
R.I.P. Sydney, you will never be forgotten
Feel free to comment, share a memory, a story, anything to help us get through this trying time. No negatives please. God Bless.
Thank you..
ReplyDeleteSydney you are missed so much already..
We are better people because of you..
Jim Valvano, a legendary basketball coach who was at the time dying of cancer said this in his famous ESPY speech:
ReplyDelete"To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."
As we mourn this devastating loss, may we not only cry, but smile and think. Smile because that is what Sidney always made us do. And may we think-think about how you can make a positive impact in someones life every single day...maybe even with just a smile, as Sidney did.
Feel free if you guys have anything to add, please let me know. I am open to any suggestions, additions, anything that will let her legacy live on. My prayers are with you.
ReplyDelete"I dropped a tear in the ocean. The day you find it is the day I will stop missing you. ~Author Unknown
ReplyDeletelove you syd. always have always will.
thank you so much for everything. youve left such a mark on my heart.
Syd had a smile that could illuminate a room and a laugh so cantagious she would have the whole room in stitches. I can speak for everyone when i say, we love you so much Sydney. You are an amazing, talented, beautiful person and that is exactly how you will be remebered as you light up our hearts and our lives forever.
ReplyDeleteI will being seeing you again.
Gone but never forgotten.
May angels lead you in.
Love you Syd Tabs!