Life is too short, or at least that’s what people keep telling me.

The past couple of months that little phrase has been a recurring theme in my life. I don’t remember a time when so many different people have told me life is short, go and do it or life is too short, live it.

This phrase has been repeated to me from all different walks of life - those younger than me, those much older than me, and everything in between. I haven’t realized just yet what message I should be realizing, but I imagine it is right in front of me.

As I sat and thought about my short life and the shortness of life, I began to ponder the things that I should do and want to do.

In late May I took over the night desk position at the Valley Courier as a summer job. Realizing, but comprehending what I had gotten myself into, I took the job. Three days in I complained and whined like a child being sent to their room.

After my tantrum subsided, I gathered my thoughts and realized I am lucky that the hierarchy at the Valley Courier gave a college junior the opportunity to gain this valuable experience.

For the past two and a half months that I have worked at the Valley Courier I have realized many things. I am lucky to have gained and be trusted with as much as I have been with this job. However, it has also taught me to appreciate the shortness of life.

Two of my tasks with this job have been the obituaries and the births. Every day I have to see all those who have left this world (be it old or young) and all those who have entered this world.

Every time I see a person who died young, it made me think of all the people I am closest to and all the things I want to do in life. Every time I saw a baby announcement it made me think of the life that lies before that newborn.

There is so much world, so many different cultures, so much history, so much excitement, and so many people that I and other people should experience. Sitting behind a desk your entire life should be disappointment. Work and money are essential, but it’s certainly not life.

Life is a cup of coffee as the sun rises over the Mediterranean Sea. Life is the rush that inevitably follows after you jump out of the skydiving airplane. Life is the homerun in the bottom of the ninth inning of your favorite baseball team. Life is the simplest of conversations with someone you love.

Unfortunately life is short. Some people miss these parts of life completely. Some people go through life brooding in self-pity and anger or devote life to work or simply do not realize the pleasures that life holds. Life is a treasure chest that is waiting to be discovered, and it should be sought after by every person.