Three weeks ago, an Australian man lost his wife and all 3 children in a house fire. Hearing such a horrible story got me thinking about how I viewed my life and the decisions I’ve made thus far.

I have always believed that life is about appreciating the time you have with the people that you love. Which is why for the past 5 years, most of my time has been spent with my husband and 3 children. Others have questioned my decision to do so, but my feelings have not faltered. Some people find happiness in spending time with their friends, some find it in spending time with their family. I know that by doing what makes me happy, I am living a life without regret.

In hearing about Matt Golinski’s loss in that fire, I knew that the way I viewed my life was exactly the way I wanted it to be. However, it also made me reflect on my feelings towards death. I’ve always feared death for many reasons; the uncertainty of it all, the people I will leave behind, and those who may leave me. All these feelings are considered to be normal, but ones that I try not to let consume me.

There will always be unanswered questions, but in focusing too much on the future, we are not enjoying the present. Life is about making decisions that we don’t live to regret, but at the same time, living in the moment. It’s a matter of finding the right balance between these two things.

Don’t live life carelessly. Live life aware of consequences, but also of the time you may or may not have. Don’t let fear stop you from taking risks. Step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself to things you believe you can’t do. Spend time with others as if it could be your last conversation, enjoy those moments that make you smile or laugh, and don’t let small things get in the way of being happy. By doing so, you are truly living life to the fullest.

Thuy Le (formerly known as Thuy Yau) is a freelance writer and Youth Work graduate living in Perth, Australia. She loves to share her own personal experiences about overcoming adversity, as she believes that human beings are more capable than they realise. She writes to make a positive difference in the world and to inspire others to learn from themselves and their own experiences. Her writing has been discussed on radio, won writing contests, appeared on The Huffington Post UK and major Australian sites such as news.com.au, SMH, Kidspot and Essential Kids. She has just completed her first book – a memoir - and is on the search for a publisher.