Norris_Formal_Essay_2

English 1010 Ashleigh Norris Fall 2009                  Come to Love as we come to Life and Death To enter the world is to take on Death. To leave the world is to take on Life. Earlier today Jordan Paganelli  faced life head on. It seems as if no one saw how great and inspirational he was until they learned of his fight. For Jordan cancer was the holder of the cards. Not all hands fair, but can one cheat? There are times where cheating seems to be the only answer; when really, cheating is one of a million different possibilities. It’s only after a horrible misfortune that the other 999,999 thousand possibilities are clear. Cheating is a path to life, but it isn’t the only one. A person who cheats their whole life leads a life of uncertainty, greed, and regret. At the end of the path they are faced head to head with life**.** They hope for nothing more than a second chance to get things right. Another shot, they soon find that the cards are not re dealt. There’s one chance to win and so many chances to lose. It’s the steps taken in life and death that can change the world and a person. Many people live their whole lives with the attitude of losing is not an option. No one likes to lose but it’s necessary because sometimes losing is the greatest victory. Just think, if you’ve lived your whole life finding ways to win and to come out on top have you really won or have you in fact lost? There is no mix up in words or meaning; death is the ultimate start to life and life the ultimate start to death. Losing a loved one or someone you may not have even known changes a person’s whole outlook on life. It makes a person want to do more with their life, makes a person think about how they live there life. A question that bobbled through my head was… if I were to die tomorrow would I be happy with my life and what I have done? My answer was, NO! Losing Jordan and going through the experience with him and all our friends gave me a greater understanding and outlook on life. Many times I’ve found myself looking for an easy way out. As if I’m waiting for someone to tell me what to do and how to do it. All I hear is confusion like the center of a tornado; all I can do is move on. Everyday chances are given and taken for granted. Think of a chance as a life. Jordan as the rest of us was given one chance. With his chance he inspired and impacted so many people’s lives. His life was short, but his death will be long lived. Jordan’s story of getting the rare cancer and his fight throughout it is just mind blowing. The groups and organizations created to support him and his family go as far as teenagers picking days to fast and pray, making shirts and dedicating sports teams victories to him, sermons in church, writing on cars “we love you Jordan” or “keep fighting”. It’s just a beautiful thing to see that even though we are all faced with death. It in return is the greatest eye opener to life. Life and Death truly go hand and hand. They are more alike than different. It is said that “with every death comes rebirth.” And that is why; life is the ultimate start to a new death. Many see life as living in the present, but when I look at it I see life as living in the hearts of the ones left behind, because it is in the end when you are gone; that people truly realize who you were and what you stood for. It is then that they get a greater outlook on life. Jordan leaving this earth in the way he did, will forever stay in the hearts of people around the world. It doesn’t matter if they meet him or just heard the story. It’s touching; facing life knowing death is coming and still smiling everyday as if nothing ever happened. It takes a strong person with an open mind to face the biggest fear “Life.” When hearing the word death thoughts of cold, dark, sad, and gloomy fill the room first. But then thoughts of life, warmth, happiness, rejoice, and together fill the room. Are all of these words not used in life and death? In the 17 years I’ve lived I can say that I have not lived up to my full potential. I can say that Jordan lived to a potential greater than his age. It’s sad to say that a great friend was lost today, but it is great to say he has changed how people will live their lives and face life and death. "We come to love, not by finding a perfect person, But by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Jordan Paganelli 