It is ten days before Christmas and I've just tucked 2 little ones into bed - the third ready but clinging to the last moments of his movie. He is six. I just read the ages and names of the children who were tragically killed in Connecticut. Every time I saw age 6 my heart broke again and again. I couldn't help but think about these families who are not tucking in their kids. Who are not worried about silly things like wrapping presents and ensuring everyone gets equal amounts of goodies. I can't imagine - and I don't want to imagine - and I won't even let myself imagine what these families are going through... It is an impossible tragedy. I am sorry for everyone involved - including the family of the shooter. As a parent, it is hard to imagine that your child could be loved and grow up to do something so sinister and evil. I just hope all the families impacted by these horrific events can find peace and justice for their little ones.
I am hopeful that this act of violence will also be a reminder to everyone of just how lucky they are to be alive - to be free - to be with their family. I am hopeful that this event will refocus people on what's important. I am hopefuly it will shed light on mental illness and perhaps encourage more open discussions about the challenges people face silently.
It seems that in our world everyone is trying to impress everyone - instead of trying to help everyone. People are embarassed to ask for help - or take help - and others are too busy trying to climb the ladder or get the latest purse, car or gadget to really stop and appreciate the simple, small blessings of life.
I say this with no judgments. I am no better. I am often worried about what people think. I am often afraid to admit when I need help. I'm often thinking about silly commerical things as a distraction from life/stress or work. But... at a time like this I find it is important to look for the lesson and to take it to heart. It is too easy to say, "how sad... how disgusting... how horrid AND forget." We must never forget this tragedy but we must take this experience and let it shape where we are going with our life. It is never too late to change course and it is never too late to helps others change their course. If everyone who was impacted by this tragedy took it as an opportunity to do something positive we could ensure that th 27 lives taken were honored and respected in the most positive way. They will continue to live on in the lives of those that loved and knew them - and those of us that only knew them as a number and an age. I can't quite get a few of the images and faces out of my mind. But I can do something positive to honor them.
Onwards and upwards!
I am hopeful that this act of violence will also be a reminder to everyone of just how lucky they are to be alive - to be free - to be with their family. I am hopeful that this event will refocus people on what's important. I am hopefuly it will shed light on mental illness and perhaps encourage more open discussions about the challenges people face silently.
It seems that in our world everyone is trying to impress everyone - instead of trying to help everyone. People are embarassed to ask for help - or take help - and others are too busy trying to climb the ladder or get the latest purse, car or gadget to really stop and appreciate the simple, small blessings of life.
I say this with no judgments. I am no better. I am often worried about what people think. I am often afraid to admit when I need help. I'm often thinking about silly commerical things as a distraction from life/stress or work. But... at a time like this I find it is important to look for the lesson and to take it to heart. It is too easy to say, "how sad... how disgusting... how horrid AND forget." We must never forget this tragedy but we must take this experience and let it shape where we are going with our life. It is never too late to change course and it is never too late to helps others change their course. If everyone who was impacted by this tragedy took it as an opportunity to do something positive we could ensure that th 27 lives taken were honored and respected in the most positive way. They will continue to live on in the lives of those that loved and knew them - and those of us that only knew them as a number and an age. I can't quite get a few of the images and faces out of my mind. But I can do something positive to honor them.
Onwards and upwards!
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