Good Sunday evening/Monday morning to all of my readers.
Contrary to the name of my blog, I don't know that I can muster up the courage to write about anything happy or hilarious based on the events that took place in our nation over the past week.
In the course of my life, I've done the best I can to keep a positive attitude regardless of what life throws my way. My father was sick for the greater part of my childhood. I watched as my father's health deteriorated year after year. In 2009, when two consecutive years of miracles began gracing my family's presence, I rejoiced. But, I never forgot the pain of the challenging years. Still today, I have strong memories of what it was like to have a heavy heart every single morning as I woke up to another day of life.
I've allowed my heart to be broken, at times; shattered. As I matured, I made the decision to create my own happiness and to never depend on others to put a smile on my face. This has proven incredibly successful for my well being over the years.
On Saturday morning (and Sunday morning) I woke up with a heavy heart again. The first time in years I woke up feeling sad, depressed even. Not from a bad break up or from a sick father, but for the absolute sadness that I feel for the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary, their families, the Newtown commuity, and for our country as a whole. I am in a semi-permanent state of shock and horror and I'm not sure how long it will continue.
What I do know is that these tragedies don't ever go away. No one can bring back the children or adults that lost their lives in Newtown, in Virginia Tech, in Columbine, in a Colorado movie theater, in the mall food court last week, at LA fitness in Pittsburgh two summers ago, or at intersections and in homes and street corners across our country each and every day. All of these tragedies have happened, and unfortunately, the likelihood that more will occur is high.
Instead of arguing about the cause of these tragedies, I encourage everyone to reflect on them, and use them as a tool to become a better person. Evil exists, and there is absolutely no doubt about it. We can't eliminate the evil. We can only work to combat it.
As happy as I am, I can't change the world alone.
This week, and from this point on, I challenge everyone to embrace the good things that are left in the world. I encourage anyone with positivity and happiness left, to try each day to impact someone's life. If we all did this, we may make a dent on all of the negativity and pain in the world.
In a conversation with a friend after the Newtown shooting, he told me "I'm going to stop watching the news and focus on what I can do to improve my life and the lives of those around me." I think that you have the right idea, Wano.
Everyone should ask themselves what they can do for humanity.
The families of the victims and of the demons lives will go on, but they will never forget the pain of their tragedies.
I don't believe that the world will end this month. But, I do believe that the world that we knew up until this point has ended, and I'm not sure that we will ever be able to get that back.
Here's to spreading positivity in a world with so many negatives,
Xoxo
