it comes in threes.

they say that tragedy comes in threes.

yesterday morning, gawker reported that a man was found dead on the l train. the same train i ride to work every morning. the day before, a friend of mine witnessed a 13 year old girl get hit by a car in the city. the child's parents were there as they watched her life fade, uncontrollably. last week, as i walked to work down bedford ave in williamsburg, a team of paramedics and fire fighters fought hard to save the life of a man that had collapsed on the sidewalk. it didn't look promising.

lesson of the week: life is fragile.

though, this sentiment may seem obvious, these events served as a reminder that life as you know it can change in just seconds. like watching a glass slip off the table, just out of reach and as you try to catch it, it hits the floor and breaks into pieces.

life is short. it bends and breaks and twists, in all directions. without control. without expectation. and, what can you do, but look both ways, eat healthy and only walk the line when you really mean it? im not sure yet if there is comfort in knowing most things are out of our control. but, the alternative seems way more scary.

do i believe in fate? yes, i think so.
is fate a bitch sometimes? certainly.
is life unfair? it can be.

but, the things you can control. the moments you choose. that's where we need to focus.

i was having drinks with a friend. a very wise friend. well, actually this advice came from a friend of hers, but lets not get caught up on who said what now. the message was clear and simple.

she said, "amber, do the things that make you happy."

i think she's right. i also think, we could probably all get better at this.