Every Day Could Be Your Last (Andy Gebhardt)

1/28/2020

On January 26, 2020, a helicopter crash claimed the lives of basketball star Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others that were one the flight. It happened suddenly on a trip to a basketball game and the whole world was taken by surprise. Not only was a world-wide athletic star killed, but an inspiration for so many people and the father of a family. Along with him and his daughter, several other teens and mothers were killed in the crash leaving many families without loved ones.
This kind of a topic is a tough one to discuss because it relates to death. However, death is a reality of life and no one knows when their time will come of what day could be their last. Bad things happen and there is often little we can do to prevent them. Living safely and healthy are preventative methods, but accidents can happen to anyone. It is part of being human.
My questions to you relate around the topic of living in the moment. Is there a time you were involved in an accident or scary situation? Could it have gone differently? What do you believe about living in the moment? Why do bad things happen? How do you want to be remembered?

38 Comments

Aiden

1/30/2020 10:33:48 am

When I was on the way down from Williams Lake one afternoon I took a corner too fast and then overcorrected the vehicle. I slid dangerously close to the edge of the cliff that overlooked the river below. This was a crazy reminder on how easy I could die at any time. I believe that bad things happen for many reason. One such reason is that without the hard and bad in our lives then we will no properly understand and fully appreciate the good times when we have it. Kobe passing away was a shock to everyone including me. I respected his killer mentality so much. He was willing to out work anyone on the planet to be better than them. He would dominate his opponents with his will. When I die I want to be remembered as someone who worked for everything I had and was.

Madicyn

1/31/2020 11:51:58 am

Once I was driving home from Idaho Falls after a long night, and an early morning. I had to be at work that morning, so we had left at around 5am, after sleeping for about 3 or 4 hours. This was the summer after my sophomore, and I had pushed my limits too much. My travel partner had fallen asleep, and we were about at QB on Highway 28 when I had slowly drifted off to sleep, I snatched my head back up to see about half my truck off the road, and an incoming drivers shocked facial expression. I slowly put my vehicle back on the road, and rolled the windows down to stay awake. Luckily I made it home safely, but it is insane how something as simple as closing your eyes can put your own, and others lives in danger.

Faith

2/2/2020 09:24:06 am

Both of these experiences sounds very scary. Kobe was a great person and will always be remembered for how successful he was.

Kately

2/2/2020 11:06:54 am

Some things can happen so quickly, especially when driving. I’m still pretty reluctant with having passengers when I drive. My dad told me the best way to stay awake is with loud music and conversation.

Paige

2/2/2020 09:29:16 am

Do you think that there are times bad things happen to help us appreciate what we have?

Ezra

2/2/2020 04:37:41 pm

It truly is terrifying to imagine dying anytime soon, and it is just about it being unknown what will happen that scares yet intrigues me.

Josephine

2/2/2020 09:22:58 pm

I wrote about a similar experience I had. Before the occurrence, I never really thought much about death. I never had experienced the loss of a loved one or anything serious in my life to make me think about this topic. After that everything changed, I began to treasure life in general and the lives of others around me.

Madicyn

1/31/2020 12:08:50 pm

Hearing about the helicopter accident, and all of the deaths of the people on board was heartbreaking. Seeing it online, and witnessing the emotional impact it had on the world was... powerful. It also made it potentially impossible to not think about death, and how quickly it can come. This incident triggered the thoughts of our own deaths, or even the deaths of close family members and friends. Subjects like these, make my overthink everything. I have been trying in more recent times to live more in the moment, rather than worrying about the future or the past. The past is over, the future isn't guaranteed, so honestly living in the present is the best thing we can do for ourselves. I hope when I'm gone, I have touched enough lives for people to remember me as a kind human, and hopefully successful.

Aiden

2/2/2020 09:10:48 am

The impact on the world was crazy. Kobe’s impact was way more than basketball. This makes me want to honor him by playing my absolute best and trying my hardest at anything I attempt to do.

Faith

2/2/2020 09:23:06 am

I overthink things like this as well. Letting go of the past is hard but it is necessary.

Brax Kauffman

2/2/2020 02:00:18 pm

Living in the moment has its perks like simply enjoying life and being present, however there are still times where planning to the future is important and needs to be done. Do you think you will still continue to do that in the future?

Faith

2/2/2020 09:21:54 am

Considering the fact that anyone could die at any moment is very scary to think about. Personally, I am a person who loves to plan things, especially ahead of time. I am constantly worried about the future and what that will hold for me and my loved ones, but I also have to take into consideration that nothing is ever certain. Because nothing is certain, I have to stop myself from thinking about the future so often. The thought of losing a friend or family member is overwhelming.
The scariest moment I can think of is when I crashed my moms car after just getting my license. In 2018, I was driving around with a friend in very slick road conditions. I hit a bad patch of ice coming around at corner and went off the road, down a small hill, and was caught by the barb wire fence which prevented me into going into a field and potentially rolling the car. If I think about it I remember how scared and awful I felt for ruining my moms car and putting my friend in danger. After getting the car out, the damage wasn’t as bad as anyone thought, but to my surprise everyone around me was only concerned if we were okay or not. That whole experience led me to have very bad anxiety when driving in the winter time, but also showed me to be more cautious because anything can happen to anyone at anytime.
I try my best to live in the present as one should, but the future is still always lingering in my thoughts. When I die, I will want to be remembered as a kind and caring person. I just want the people who knew me to think of me in a positive way I suppose.

Paige

2/2/2020 09:26:19 am

I also find myself worrying about the future, do you find it hard to live in the moment? Do you believe everything happens for a reason?

Kately

2/2/2020 11:10:32 am

I find that looking ahead is a good, but it can only get you so far. What do you worry about most?

Ezra

2/2/2020 04:40:54 pm

In my story it was also weird to me that my family didn't care that our car was totaled they just wanted to know if I was alright. It shows that we actually have people out there that care about us no matter what.

Paige Hilton

2/2/2020 09:24:04 am

There was a time when my siblings and I got rear-ended and almost slid into the path of a bus. My sister and I both got concussions and my brother received severe whiplash. This moment was an eye opener for me as I realized that unpredictable situations can lead to a variety of outcomes, even death. This experience, as well as many others, has led me to appreciate the present and not worry so much about what is to come. I hope that when I die I am remembered as loving, kind, and hard working.

Erykah

2/2/2020 11:54:49 am

Unpredictability is what makes life scary, but it also makes it exciting. I guess that is why some people are attracted to sky diving and rock climbing. Would you be willing to try these things even though they are dangerous?

Brax Kauffman

2/2/2020 01:56:39 pm

Moments like that can be defining in people’s life. Do you believe in living in the moment more than thinking of the future or is it more balanced?

Aiden

2/2/2020 05:21:50 pm

I’m thankful for those moments that remind us and keep us in check. This way we appreciate the times where we are safe and sound.

Erykah Foss

2/2/2020 11:51:57 am

When I was 6 years old, my family and I were heading to a birthday party. As we pulled in, we got rear-ended by an old lady, bruising the passengers, breaking my dad’s back, and making my mom lose her memory for almost an hour. There was little we could do because the old lady didn’t slow down or go around us as we tried pulling into the driveway. Because I was young at the time, I did not comprehend the situation completely. Now that I am older, I understand the dangers of driving. However, as long as I am cautious, I will remain confident in my driving ability. I think less bad things happen when people learn how to avoid them. For example, high schoolers take Driver’s Ed to understand the mechanics of driving and techniques to avoid crashing.

Each moment is an opportunity to discard worry, regret, and shame. These are unavoidable parts of life that we learn to cope with, letting us be free to feel happiness and pleasure. With the right approach, we can accept the bad moments and take in the good ones to make life not only bearable but enjoyable. If we were happy all the time, it would feel less special. After I die, I hope that I will be remembered for my honesty, friendly nature, and fun spirit. Although I am young, I believe I am a good person who has made a good difference in other’s lives.

Tori Weir

2/2/2020 03:39:04 pm

I liked that you mentioned that we can accept the bad moments as well as taking in good ones to make life enjoyable. I know that a lot of bad experiences that happen in our lives we forget and only remember the good parts. With that, do you think it is important to experience both the bad and good moments of life?

Alyssa Farnworth

2/2/2020 05:35:56 pm

As you stated "Each moment is an opportunity to discard worry, regret, and shame". Most people don't live by this and it often takes a tragedy such as Kobe and Gianna's death to appreciate what we do have. Why do you think it requires these reminders? What could everyone do to remember that their time is limited?

Kately

2/2/2020 11:55:54 am

When I was around five, my sister was driving my mom and I back from Idaho Falls. I was asleep in the back, laying across the seat without a seatbelt. I don’t remember what woke me up, but I immediately put on my seatbelt. Not even a minute after, We hit a bad patch of ice and slid into a ditch. The car had no body damage, and we were all left unscathed. My mom still calls it one of the spookiest things she’s ever seen. It could’ve ended quite differently if I did not put on my seatbelt. Some things happen, whether or not it should. Either way, Kobe, his daughter, and the others who lost their lives will be missed.

Erykah

2/2/2020 11:59:11 am

It's scary to think that we could die at any moment, which is why it's important to appreciate even the smallest things. For example, I thank my mom for breakfast every morning because I know she will not always be there to take care of me, especially since I will be going to college next year. What are some things in your life that you are grateful for?

Madicyn

2/2/2020 01:38:52 pm

Past college, no matter how difficult that is going to be, I have moments when I think and process about when my grandparents or parents are no longer going to be here with us. Thinking about these moments, scares me to say the least. It reminds me how important it is to be grateful for the moments we have with these special people, and usually has me calling my family members, or doing small gestures. I should work on doing this, without having to think these sad thoughts first, but it gives me a reminder to do so.

Alyssa Farnworth

2/2/2020 05:32:06 pm

There is a saying that everything happens for a reason. Do you believe this to be true? or do you think everything happens as a mere coincidence? I'm glad that you and your family were safe in that situation.

Brax Kauffman

2/2/2020 01:54:25 pm

Death is a sensitive topic that no one wants to deal with in their life, but something that everyone has to deal with at some point. Throughout your entire life there will be people that get old, sick, and eventually die. Without death, there would be significantly less appreciation for life on an everyday basis. Because of this, it is important that we are grateful for everyday that we get to live and the people we get to live around. I am a firm believer of living life to the fullest and living in the moment. While living in the moment is a must to lead a happy life, there are times where a person must look to the past for advice, and then to the future for planning. Once someone can find a good balance between these three, it will benefit your life in multiple ways. Along with this, being remembered can be an important aspect to people. While some look to be remembered by as many people as they can, others are perfectly satisfied by living in through their children’s memories by teaching them through their mistakes.

Tori Weir

2/2/2020 03:34:11 pm

Many people become uncomfortable and sad talking about death. I know that after a love one's death it can affect everyone who knew that person greatly.

Andy Gebhardt

2/2/2020 03:48:45 pm

Living in the moment is a piece of advice that many do not think about. People tend to look towards the future and miss important things that happen around them. Do you think there are more people that live in the moment or more that worry about other things?

Tori Weir

2/2/2020 03:27:20 pm

When I was driving to Missoula with my family I almost hit a deer who went across the road a couple of years ago. I remember I was going 70 mph and saw cars that were going the other way braking and realized that I should too even though I had no idea why. I braked just in time before the deer passed and both of my parents who were with me experiencing this were freaking out. It was a weird feeling I felt because I was not scared or nervous and I actually felt calm and relaxed during the whole thing. Looking back now I am actually confused why I felt that way because if I hit the deer that were crossing my parents and I would be really injured. At the same could time I am grateful that I stayed calm and collected because if I was nervous then I would have a higher chance of swerving or making a fatal mistake.
Life is short, ever since I was young I always knew to live life the best and fulfilling way as possible. I have gone to several funerals of my family members and friends, and each time I would hear their story and their life. I believe that everything that has happened whether it is good or bad is meant to happen because it could be a learning experience and a start of something. That is why simply living today and being grateful that I am alive is how I live in the moment. When I die I want to be remembered as someone who is truthful and strong in my beliefs and everything I put myself in.

Andy Gebhardt

2/2/2020 03:36:15 pm

That is a great point. Knowing how you want to be remembered is a good way to live by. Is there a reason you live by this idea? Was the experience while you were driving what impacted this?

Sabrina

2/2/2020 07:00:44 pm

I think in addition to living for today, we should be actively living for tomorrow and building our lives.

Ezra

2/2/2020 04:34:27 pm

On my fourteenth birthday, my sister and I were driving down Hull Creek road when we took a corner to fast we started to slide. She then over corrected and we went off into a lower basin, but the drop off the road was a good ten feet. Upon impact the air bags went off and we rolled onto the top of the car. If we weren't wearing our seatbelts then we would have either died or been severely injured but we were both fine. For me it wasn't very serious because I was not the one driving and I thought it was kind of fun, but it defiantly came out of nowhere and it could have been much worse. Anything can happen on any day so I agree with living in the moment do not wait until tomorrow to do something cause there might not be a tomorrow. Bad things happen because everything we do as humans is dangerous and if we want to live a full life we risk what might happen for what we will get accomplished. If I died I would want to be remembered as a carefree and relaxed person.

Sabrina

2/2/2020 06:47:56 pm

I like that you don't try to live super carefully in order to avoid bad things. Life should have purpose and should not be centered around avoiding death.

Alyssa Farnworth

2/2/2020 05:29:06 pm

Death is a topic that most like to avoid talking about until it is necessary. In my family, death is not something that usually comes due to an old age. Most of my family members have died due to sickness or in accidents. We have had so much death in my family that funerals are no longer a formal event and are more a celebration of life and a time that we all get together as a family.

This year my dad, siblings, and I were in a car wreck. Had my dad not been able to turn the wheels toward the road the car would have rolled. Luckily, he was able to correct it and there were no injuries to any of us. This situation was scary. I mostly thought about my mom who would have been alone had we all died.

I think there needs to be a balance between living in the moment and looking to the future and the past. No one should live in the past but learn from it. No one should only live for the future because the moments we are living are all we have. There is no guarantee for the future. Living in the moment is something that I struggle with but I do see the importance of. I don’t think there is any specific reason that bad things happen other than that they do and we can make the choice of how we react to them or choose to learn from them. Finally, I want to be remembered as someone who was kind and successful and happy.

Sabrina

2/2/2020 06:39:38 pm

I've lived a very safe life. I can't remember the near death experiences I've had because I was too young when I had them and they weren't my fault. My perception of this topic is heavily swayed by my religious views so if I were to die young I would be more worried about the pain my family would endure. However, if someone else in my family were to die, that would make me regret and wish I could change things. I think the idea of living in the moment is silly. Life is a mixture of enjoying the moment and looking ahead and that's always how it should be. Living in the moment creates more regrets for me than fun. I don't think I can explain why bad things happen, they just do. Trying to figure out why is trying to find something to blame. We never ask why good things happen. I don't know how I want to be remembered. I don't necessarily want to be remembered for a trait, like Honest Abe. I'd rather be remembered for the little things by close family and friends. She liked ice cream and always sat in the same seat for dinner. I'm not perfect and I don't want people to glorify me when I die.

Josephine

2/2/2020 09:35:20 pm

I agree, it is the little moments in life that makes it such a beautiful thing. I would rather be remembered for spreading kindness to others and bringing joy into their lives than anything else. In the end, all that matters is the way you treat others.

Josephine

2/2/2020 09:15:49 pm

When I was around thirteen, my family and I went up into the mountains to get a Christmas tree. Well, my stepfather at the time thought he was invincible because he just got a new truck with four-wheel drive and dual tires. It was snowing pretty hard and were heading up a narrow road my mother told him not to go up. He did not listen to her and we kept going higher and higher up. When we rounded a corner the truck slipped and we almost went off the side of the cliff. It was a terrifying experience, my mother successfully got the stepchildren and I out of the truck and we walked about a half-mile down the road to wait for my stepfather and a family friend to get the truck unstuck. We stood there for hours it was then that I realized how fragile life is and to treasure each moment of my life and the time I have with friends and family.

Author

Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

Author

Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.