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Hello out there, Carolina Country readers. Thanks for dropping by for another rambling article. I hope everything is going well out across beautiful North Carolina, and y’all have had a wonderful April.

I would like to share some of the knowledge I have gained over the past month.

My life has been sort of turned upside down and run through the ringer recently. Unfortunately, my family and I received some heart-breaking news in March: my mother was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. First of all, let me say that she is doing better. Her treatments have gone well, and she has gone through some very difficult times, but overall, she has improved. She will continue to be treated throughout the summer. So please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers.

As you can imagine, I was incredibly devastated by the news. I spent several days contemplating the whole situation. I began to revaluate things in my life, and I began pondering the question: “Where have we as mankind been focusing our lives?” In a world contaminated with greed, corruption, lies and deception, we as people have tragically lost focus on the important things in life. It appears that somewhere along the way we have lost touch with ourselves and have gotten too wrapped up in the day-to-day rat race. My heart aches, and continues to ache, over the thought of everyone simply out to better themselves. I shudder to think that greed has become the motivation and drive behind success in the world today. I shudder to think that this world sees the Almighty Dollar as important as oxygen. Are the simple things such as the gift of life and family no longer our most valuable possessions?

One of my teachers once told me that from the moment we are born, our time here on Earth is ticking down. At that time, I didn’t pay any attention to these words because I was more focused on the blonde-haired, green-eyed girl in front of me. Now, however, these words send a very powerful message to me. I have known all along that life is a precious gift, and I have always known that it can change in the blink of an eye. I have just always naively thought that it never would.

I can remember as a child always wanting the material things. (Man, even as I’m thinking about it I would love to get my hands on some more bottle rockets.) I can remember being jealous of the kids who always had the newest clothes and coolest toys. Now as a teenager, I would prefer the simplest thing in life: I would love to have my mama home with me instead of at the hospital.

In my opinion, the world has, for some reason, gotten itself in a tremendous hurry. We’re always trying to move on to bigger and better things when what we’ve got right now is perfectly fine. Sure, there are some issues that need to be resolved, but like Papaw says, “If it ain’t broke, don’t break it.”

We all only get one shot at this game of life. Yes, we are going to be thrown some nasty curveballs, but we’ve got to keep our heads down and keep on swinging. I thank God for my life and the blessings he has given me. I appreciate the simple things in life. To all of you, my friends, my family, and especially my mom: Thanks for everything and I love you.

Jacob Brooks is a senior at Alleghany High School in Sparta.

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