The television news coverage of panicked, grieving families awaiting word of the fate of the passengers on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has been heartbreaking to watch. Since families were notified Monday analysis of satelite information revealed the jet must have crashed into the Indian Ocean, the loved ones of the victims are now experiencing a terrible, unexpected loss.

Passengers of many ages were on the plane. When they boarded the flight, family and friends left behind had no idea they would never see them again.

Sudden death is a nightmare for survivors, no matter what the age of the deceased is. Sadly, a local family experienced such a loss recently. A 21-year-old Salisbury High School graduate was killed instantly when a pickup truck in which he was a passenger slammed into a tractor trailer on Route 22, Upper Macungie Township. He was so young.

I have experienced the loss of two brothers, one at the age of 14 and another who was 32. These sudden losses of life have taught me an important lesson: Never miss an opportunity to tell the ones you love what they mean to you.

Life is so busy for all of us. It is easy to forget to take time to tell others in our lives they are appreciated. Many of us are too busy driving, working, texting, shopping, cleaning and Internet surfing to realize how important a kind word, a hug, a show of appreciation, a smile and an expression of pride can be.

Often, to the recipient, a small show of affection can mean more than we know.

Two of my husband's grandsons, both 17 years old, are starting off on the right foot. When Grandpa gave Nick an archery bow he had owned for many years, Nick wrote in a thank-you note: "This bow means a lot to me, especially coming from you. Thank you for always giving me lessons and trying to help me with baseball, basketball and shooting pellet guns. Thank you for being the most perfect grandparent anyone could ever ask for."

Another grandson, Sam, wrote a message inside a birthday card this year. It said, in part: "I know we butt heads now and again, but I hope you know I love and respect you as much as anyone. You have helped me grow to a man and have been more of a father to me than anyone."

Those two notes are prominently displayed on the refrigerator door in our kitchen, where their grandfather sees them every day. I don't think he'll ever take them down.

Perhaps from time to time we should ask ourselves what we would like to say to each of our loved ones if we knew this would be the last day we would see them – and then say it.

Of course, it is not only the possible sudden death of someone else in our lives that has the potential to change our behavior.

What if I had been on the flight or in that pickup truck?

Tomorrow is never guaranteed to anyone.

Have I done something with my life to make a positive impact on my family, friends or community or am I still saying, "Maybe later."

In the seconds before I die, will I have regrets about things I didn't do?

Bronnie Ware, an Australian nurse who cares for terminally ill patients surveyed people in her care about their regrets. No one wished they had worked harder, watched more TV or drove a fancier car.

They wished they had worked less, played with their children more, fulfilled more of their dreams and chosen to be happier.

And they wished they had expressed their feelings to others more often.

They also regretted not maintaining old friendships, as they realized how valuable making the effort would have been as they got older.

No matter what our age is, we can learn some lessons from these people who, when they were interviewed during the final weeks of their lives, were too sick to do anything about it once their impending deaths had brought on a clarity of vision about how they had lived their lives.

Have you said all you want to say? Have you done all you hoped to do?

What are you waiting for?

Linda Wojciechowski

associate editor

Catasauqua Press