Yesterday morning about 3 am, I had decided to go to bed early. That's early for me anyway. I finished what I was doing, I brushed and flossed my teeth, washed my face and slipped into my night gown. I decided to check my e-mail real fast.
I saw a breaking news announcement on the home page about something horrible that happened in Aurora. I didn't really read it, but instead I turned on CNN. I sat watching in disbelief as the horror unfolded. Aurora is just a shade over an hour away from me. In fact I had been in Denver just the day before.
Even though sometimes my posts are from a removed, casual, spectator point of view...I have a deep and abiding love for humanity on the whole. All people, everywhere. I am not sure that always comes through, but it's true.
What I saw broke my heart and reduced me to tears. The fear, the lack of understanding, the unspeakable horror of it all...it was so overwhelming in those hours last night. I prayed fervently for the victims and their families. I prayed that Colorado could be spared any more tragedy. We have had more than our fair share lately. I prayed that we could find some sense of it all.
Today I was on a forum I frequent. A teenager made the comment that they didn't understand what the point of living was if the planet was such a horrible place where these kinds of things could happen, and you couldn't even feel safe going to a movie. I immediately responded. Teenagers have a tough time in this world. I told them not to think that way. There are still so many good people in this world who do good things and care, and the best thing they could do is be one of them. But never think that way.
This child's words haunted me all day. I wondered if she was ok, if she had someone to talk with about her feelings and fears...someone to help her through it. I wondered just how many people are uncaring? And how many people feel this fatalistic sense about the world?
A while back someone who has a lovely public persona made it abundantly clear to me in private that they didn't care one bit about other people...people they knew and people they didn't. They live their life solely for themselves first. I was shocked at their attitude. At first I was a bit angry. I thought how can you be so unfeeling towards others. But then almost immediately I felt pity. The greatest disservice they do is to themselves.
When people commit acts without thinking of others...whether on a small intimate scale, or a very large frightening one like last night...the damage they do reaches farther than they can ever imagine. But then I suppose they don't care.
It can leave us wondering what the point of living on this planet is. You don't have to be a teenager to feel this way. You can be any age, with any life experience behind you and still feel bereft, frightened and confused when these things occur and people have these attitudes.
But we have the power to combat it.
A while back I saw the picture of the locket shown above on Pinterest. I did a web search to find that locket. I had to have it. I did find it...it was made by the lovely Liz Lamoreux. I immediately bought it. I am a firm believer in loving big...it's the only way I know how to do it.
One of the best things we can do is look beyond ourselves, and LOVE BIG. Love your family, your friends, your community, and humanity on the whole. Love strangers. Love enemies. That one is a tall order. It won't bring back those that have been lost to tragedy, but you never know...if you LOVE BIG, it too might have a farther reaching effect than you can imagine. I have said many times on this very blog, and in real life that we live on a small isolated planet, if we don't take care of each other...who will? I don't expect anyone to be perfect or never have an off day...or even to never be less than kind to someone who doesn't deserve it...trust me I have those days, and I have done it too. But try to show by example that this world is still worth living in. The best way to do that is to overcome and love a little more, show compassion, and even when you aren't inspired to, LOVE BIG!
I hope you all have a safe and wonderful weekend. And just so you know it...I love you all for taking time to read what I write!
K. <3
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