The past few days have been filled with many opportunities to reflect on life. On Friday, I attended a fundraiser for a 6-year-old girl with Stage 4 cancer. That same day, a friend’s wife lost her long-fought battle with the disease.

Over the weekend, I corresponded with two online friends, both of whom are struggling with their own personal demons, leading them to question whether or not their lives have worth or meaning.

And yesterday, the father of one of my daughter’s friends was killed in a car accident. He was a devoted husband and father of two young girls, and only a few years older than I am.

At times like these, I have to remind myself to step back and look at the bigger picture, to see beyond the darkness of these troubling days.

So today, I’m going to take some time to focus on the blessings that I have in my life: a healthy family, good friends, and the drive to keep appreciating these things, especially in the face of tragedy.