I was walking down the narrow road toward my house, as always, when suddenly an expensive car came up from behind. A hand reached out and grabbed the backpack I had on. I felt myself whirl in the air like a gymnast doing an exhibition. And then it was gone…both the car and the backpack with my “life” in it. It had my cell phone, my wallet with all the necessary documents, books that I was reading, several pieces of jewelry, two flash disks that were absolutely essential in my work; not to mention all the sentimental knick-knacks that had been with me for long. I’m the Girl Scout type who likes to bring everything in one bag. And just like that--as I lay hunched up in a weird way on the street--along with my pride, my bag and everything in it were gone.

My mourning lasted weeks, if I could have given my stuff a funeral I would probably have, but I would have liked it better if it was by some unexplained turnout returned. Of course, that didn’t happen. As I faced the reality, as most of us who had experienced the same thing must one way or the other face, I resolved to start rebuilding. There were documents to type, Affidavit of Losses to get, pictures to be taken, locks of the doors to be changed (Yup! My keys were in the bag, too.), licenses and cards to be replaced, doctor’s appointment to go to (My arm swelled.)…Whew! Those were a lot of things to do! But I did it.

One by one, they were replaced, signed and paid for. That’s when I realized. How amazingly replaceable they were! In about two weeks, the pieces of stuff that I missed already had clones of them in my new wallet and my new bag. Had I been mourning for the wrong things? Was the lesson here not just “Do not walk alone.”? or “Be careful.”? or “Be alert of your surroundings.”? or even “Do not bring everything in your bag when you don’t need all of the stuff.”? (Though I sure did learn that last one!)

Could it be that the real lesson is that things are replaceable but life isn’t? Both my life and the life of the ones who stole.

If that was the case, as it really is, then we must LIVE! And LOVE!

Live in such a way that the one life that we have now isn’t wasted on things that really don’t matter. Live with life, not just to exist or survive, but to make a difference—as we all are made for.

And live to love. I know that if someone had really loved those who stole my bag, then it would have been harder for them to choose the path that they chose now. And that would have made a difference in this country to lessen the burden and the crime rate. Because they too would have chosen a life of love. We can only give what we ourselves have received.

Valentines may only be for a day but really it must be a year long celebration. Love is not only confined to the limits of romantic purposes. Love must be everyday and with everyone, whether parents, friends, brothers and sisters; teachers and work mates; husbands and wives. A cliché goes that the closest to us are the ones we hurt most yet let us choose this “Those closest to us are the ones that we can touch with love, instead of with unkind words and unkind actions.” And just this would make all the difference in the world.

Have a Valentine’s year!

Charity Oh is a medical technologist by training and a perpetual student of life by calling -- tasting its slices one bite at a time.