In light of the recent tragedies, my fourth wish is that we, as a society, remember the victims of these senseless acts of violence and make changes in how we treat ourselves, our loved ones, and one another.

On Christmas Eve, 1989, my 16 year old brother was killed in a car accident.  He was the youngest of 4 and the only boy and our lives have never been the same.  I look at my beautiful nieces and think how much fun he would have had being their uncle, I wonder who he might have married, if he would have had children and what they may have been like…to those who have lost loved ones tragically and unexpectedly…the pain subsides in time, but will never leave you.

Despite how you feel today, life does go on and as hard as it is, you must move forward…create a credo to live by and to honor your lost loved one:

I will tell those I love…that I love them on a regular basis.

I will be purposeful in my life and take responsibility for the results.

I will stretch myself past my limits daily, I will not wait for perfection, and I will act now.

I will learn from my failures and my successes.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families and community of Newtown, CT.

Vicki Reed