Today, during a medical relief visit in a small African town, we were robbed by 5 masked men with hand carved weapons. They demanded that we give them any food we had on us. Once we tossed them the few morsels of food we had in our bags they thanked us, apologized several times and then ran off into the brush. MMT

Today, in the last few hours of her life, she told me her only regret was that she didn’t appreciate every year with the same passion and purpose that she has had in the last 2 years after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. “I’ve accomplished so much recently,” she said. “If I had only known, I would have started sooner.” MMT

Today, during a suicide awareness discussion at school most of the students were being obnoxious and joking around about suicide. A guy who sits in the back of the class, who happens to be a well respected athlete on the football team, walked to the front of the class and rolled up his shirt sleeves to show everyone the old scars on his wrists. He said, “This stuff isn’t funny! There was a time when I was younger when I almost gave up.” His bold courage MMT.

Today, in the poor third world country where my family lives, a street child knocked on my car window begging for food. I gave the little girl a granola bar. She said, “Thank you,” and then immediately handed it to her little brother who was skin and bones. As I drove off I watched in my rearview mirror as she rubbed his back while he ate. MMT

Today, as I was rushing to work in the grumpiest of moods, I drove past a full parking lot at the local funeral home and it reminded me that no matter how stressful I think my morning has been, at least I’m not on my way to a funeral for someone I care about. MMT

Today, she came out to me immediately after I came out to her. And suddenly the last few years of awkwardness and silence seemed so foolish. MMT

Today, nearly a year after her suicide, four different people posted comments on her Facebook wall telling her how wonderful she was. Since her death, there have been over 1200 comments like these left on her Facebook wall. Before her death, there were hardly any. MMT

Today, I learned that 1 person commits suicide every 18 minutes, and that about 1/3 of those suicides are committed by people who were bullied because of their sexuality or gender identity. That makes me sad. That makes me angry! That MMT.

Today, after my daughter saved her friend's life, I realized that no 13-year-old should have to devote 4 hours in the middle of the night to trying to prevent a friend/classmate from committing suicide. Not at their age... MMT

Today, when I heard them talking about me behind my back (literally) in algebra class I got upset. And just when I was about to turn around in my desk and say something I realized they were talking about how much they liked my new hair style. MMT

Today, if I had gone back to sleep when I saw his number, he'd be dead. MMT

Today, after I buried my 19-year-old cat’s body in my backyard at 9AM this morning, my 11-year-old dog who grew up his whole life around my cat sat beside my cat’s grave for the rest of the day until I called him inside for the night. MMT

Today, I was floating on an inner tube in my Aunt’s swimming pool in Florida. A month ago I was recovering in a military hospital in Iraq. Two months ago I was shot two times when our team was ambushed during a recon mission. Three months ago I was deployed to Iraq for the first time. MMT

Today he died. Yesterday he was born. He is the only brother I have ever had. And when I close my eyes I can still see him in my mind and he makes me smile and MMT.

Today, as I looked at my ex-girlfriend of almost 2 years from across the hall, I realized that it’s weird how we go from being strangers, to being friends, to being more than friends, to being practically strangers all over again. MMT

Today, the Salvation Army charity representative that collects money outside our grocery store told me that this past holiday season she received more ‘spare change’ donations from young kids and teenagers than she did from adults. MMT

Today, even though it once broke my heart, as I chatted with my ex-husband and his boyfriend, I realized I am happy for them. MMT

Today, our son grabbed our family photo to kiss daddy good night. He looked at me and asked, "Daddy home now?" I told him that daddy still has a lot of work to do. He pouted and then asked, "Daddy no love me?" My husband is in Iraq for another 6 months and today was our son's 3rd birthday. I want him home so bad it brings me to tears. MMT

Today, the star quarterback at our university gave an informative speech in our speech class about his little sister’s struggle with leukemia. He cried openly and honestly in front of an auditorium of nearly 200 students for 10 minutes. MMT

Today, I realized that no matter how many Christmas lights, decorations, and stockings they put up, an Army tent in Afghanistan will never feel like Christmas. MMT