Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.

Today is the one-year anniversary of the shootings at Virginia Tech. My friend Demic organized a memorial service in remembrance of the 32 deaths that day, a year ago.

These moments go to show how fragile life is. How easily life can be snuffed away by the actions of someone else, someone who was also sickened and twisted by things in his life. While Seung-Hui Cho was the killer, he was not without pain or grief. Clearly, he had been lost as well. And all the other 31 victims had so much waiting for them. Life is never long enough.

Somebody spoke at the ceremony tonight, and recited an inspiring Sanskrit proverb:

“Look well to this day, for it is life, the very life of life. In it lies all the realities and verities of existence: the bliss of growth, the glory of action, splendor of beauty. For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow only a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day, for it and it alone is life! Such is the salutation of the dawn.”

Yesterday is but a dream.

Tomorrow is only a vision.

Look well, therefore, to this day.

I must continually remind myself this, but there is but one today. And fear of what may come tomorrow shall not stop me. For then today will have been in vain. Where I am today, who I am today, is a product of decisiveness and not waiting or stopping because of fear. As my mother wisely pointed out to me today, I have learned not to live in yesterday’s memories. And I have learned not to fear tomorrow. I must always remember this.

Carpe Diem. Seize the day.

Stalker - Canon EOS Rebel XTi with 35mm f/3.5 at 100 ISO