By Andrew Santis
Why is it that we become more appreciative of the people in our lives when something tragic occurs?
I found myself in this situation exactly one month ago when I lost a loved one to cancer.
Lorena Contreras, or Loren as my family and I called her, was my babysitter from when I was two months old to about age seven. She was no ordinary babysitter, though, because she went above and beyond the duties of an ordinary babysitter. Simply put, she cared for me like I was her son.
Her untimely death was a grim reality I could not fathom. The babysitter who was like a second mother to me was now gone.
Loren’s passing made me reflect on whether or not I was fully valuing the basic, yet fundamental, aspects of my life. These aspects, like health, a place to live and a family, can be easily overlooked from day to day. We are often distracted and preoccupied with academics, work or other commitments, which are then prioritized over the simpler and more important values of life. We cannot foresee what will become of us or our loved ones. Therefore it is crucial to be grateful for what we have today and not what we assume we will have tomorrow.
People like Loren are one in a million. It is rare to encounter people like her in our lives. However, we fail to appreciate their presence until they are gone. And then the regrets start settling in. This is how I feel now. While I definitely enjoyed every minute I spent with her as a child, I wish I had called her more frequently than just for birthdays and holidays. I wish
I visited her more often when she was at the hospital; I wish I invited her to my ceremonies, concerts or dinner with each other’s families. Sadly, she, as many other loved ones who have passed on to the afterlife, were taken for granted, and now it is too late to do any of that. How unfortunate that this is always the case.
As Thanksgiving approaches, take a moment to do the following: embrace loved ones, thank a special person in your life, and call—not text, email, Facebook message, or Tweet — someone you have not spoken to in a while. The point of this exercise is to start a long-term habit of becoming more appreciative to those who have positively impacted you. The sooner you start this, the better.
Be grateful for the selfless people who give or have given their time for you. They teach us countless lessons about life and try to prepare us for the unknowns that lie ahead. Although they do not ask for anything in return, it would not hurt to show a gesture of appreciation, no matter how small.
So do not wait to thank the exceptional individuals in your life. Learn from my mistake and prevent any future remorse by thanking them now when it counts most. You will not regret it.
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Andrew Santis, GSB ’16, is a marketing major from Queens, New York.
