That's really all I can say about the Virginia Tech shootings. That, and a big, long sigh.
My birthday is on Friday and frankly, it is sad how many horrific events have happened near or on the 20th. Nope, I'm not going to wax dramatic on you about how my birthday!is!ruined! It's not like that. Not in the least. If anything, it makes me appreciate that I even get to celebrate another birthday, thus keeping in line with my firm credo that birthdays are MEANT to be CELEBRATED. The alternative? Not so appealing.
This week is always filled with sadness because of the inevitable remembrances of some really crappy events - is it like this throughout the year for other birthdays? Obviously, I have no frame of reference since this is the only birthday I get. But there it is - right around the 20th, some really crappy events. There was the Waco Siege on April 19th 1993, then Oklahoma City Bombing a few years later in 1995. Then, a few years later still on April 20th, 1999 there was Columbine. And now Virginia Tech.
Often, in comments directed towards posts where the blogger is having a difficult time, I'll say something to the effect of "remember to be kind to yourself". I'd like to amend that and say "remember to be kind to others". My goal this week is to just be kind. Even to the surly nurse at my doctor's office who has no business working with children with her crappy attitude. Even to the bag boy at my grocery store who obviously hates his job. Even to the guy who cut me off today when I was on my way home. Even to a few people in my life recently who have really hurt my feelings to the core.
So, I propose a "Let's be kind" motto for the rest of the week. Will it change the world? No. But it will give me Hope in my fellow man because DAMN. There's enough meanness as it is.
12 comments:
I don't know what to say about it either. I also feel really lucky to be alive and that I am sitting here celebrating my birthday-even with all the emotional scars I am carrying from my own life.
Well celebrating is putting it extravagantly. I am sitting here sniffling into a tissue rubbing vicks into my chest.
You are sweet. I'll definitely try to be kind.
April 20th is a symbolic day for a lot of disturbed people because it was Adolph Hitler's birthday, so it may not be completely random. I know I've heard that connection made for the shootings in Columbine. I'm not sure about any of the other tragedies you mentioned.
My birthday is September 10th, so I definitely understand what you're talking about. You're very right to point out how lucky we are to be able to celebrate our birthdays at all.
I'll join you in that. Kindness begets kindness, often.
Yeah, there is not a whole lot to say is there? We'll never understand the kind of sadness that leads to these tragedies.
general feelings of sadness here.
I agree with Diana--kindness does beget kindness and I think the opposite is true--nastiness begets nastiness.
Unfortunately, my usual first reaction when met with surliness/crankiness is to give people a taste of their own medicine. Not good. I don't want to be like that!
Thanks for writing about this. I'm going to see what will happen if I practice more kindness.
Give peace a chance, baby.
Nice post.
Amen sister. I will be thinking of you all week!
(OH had Indian food last night.) It was yummy! I thought of you and even told the hubby about you.
I'll join in the vow of kindness. My motto about horrific and terrible things is that they must happen to wake the rest of us up and make us be better people.
Happy Birthday....mine was last Saturday.
A) I suck, as I missed your birthday. Happy birthday!
B) My stylist thinks we should just declare the whole week from April 11-20 as "wack week," because as it is Hitler's birthday sometime that week, people always do weird stuff then. You seem to have a similar theory, eh?
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