Everyday, in the newspapers, we get a lot of news about people who die in a plane crash, due to war, tension in places like Kashmir, due to road and rail accidents and many more such causes. We feel sorry for the victims and very soon, forget it in the monotony of daily routine. It is a fact all of us have to accept that though we can generally empathize with the victims of such mishaps, we can really feel the depth of their grief only when we are in that situation.

Recently, one of my close relatives, my uncle - to be precise, my aunt's husband, passed away. It came as a sudden shock to all of us. This, in spite of the fact that he was bedridden and had been in coma for about a week before he passed away. Three of my cousins are yet to settle down in life, and this came as a very rude shock which left all of us shaken.

But what struck me is that even though my uncle was not alive and kicking just before he passed away, still he was a big moral support to his family even when he was critically ill. The initial presence, and later the absence of that spark called life made an ocean of a difference. They were very hopeful that things would work out positively and he would be all right very soon. However, after he suddenly passed away after showing signs of recovery, they (my aunt and my cousins) still thought positively and said it was a relief to him from all his suffering. However, my heart missed a beat when they asked, "It was a relief to him alright, but what about us?"

It was then that I felt that one of the greatest difficulties in the world is coping up and getting back to normal after the death of a loved one. Age is not a factor here since a loved one remains a loved one whatever be his/her age. As Shakespeare says, "Love is not Time's fool." Though he used this in a different context it applies to all kinds of relationships.

There is a solution for every other thing if we approach it proactively. After all, "Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we react to it." This life is a wonderful gift given to us by the Almighty! May we use each and every moment of this in the best possible way! Let's enjoy life and live it to the fullest! Let us make our mark in life by using this awesome opportunity called life!