I am tired.
I am so tired of waking up to the kind of news I woke up to this morning. I am tired of watching people do bad things in our world. I am tired of becoming used to this.
This morning on the radio, one of the cast members said something along the lines of, "I hope this is the last straw for you." And I cannot help but agree. I hope you are as fed up with these kinds of tragedies as I am. I hope this is the one to finally break you down and make you take action.
Around me today, people are going about their lives as if nothing has happened. As if 58 people haven't lost their lives and 500+ more aren't wounded in the hospital. How have we become numb to this kind of thing? When did it get to the point that another shooting happens, and all that comes out of it is a couple of days of angry tweeting and Facebook article sharing? It's not right. It's just not right, and I won't accept it.
I don't care what your opinions are. I don't care which political party you're affiliated with. I don't care if you own a gun or not, if you believe people should have the right to own a gun or not. I don't care about that. Sure, there are days when I have an opinion on those issues, and I know today many people are sharing their opinions on those issues. I'll talk about that another day. But today I don't care about that, and I don't want to talk about it. I care about making the world a better place. I care about the lives that were lost today and the hundreds of other lives that could have been lost and the millions of lives that have been affected as a result of one person's actions.
One person. One person with a gun did that. One person ended lives and changed lives for the worse.
But you know what? One person can do the opposite. One person can save a life and change lives for the better. I can be that person. You can be that person. Each of us can be the person who makes the conscious decision to do good in the world, make it a better place, fight for a better tomorrow. If we all tried to be that one person, imagine what kind of difference we could make.
When bad things happen — and wow have a lot of bad things happened recently — it's so easy to feel helpless. It's so easy to share an article on Facebook or send out a tweet with a hashtag telling people that you're thinking of and praying for those in need. I love that! I'm all about that. Think and pray for those who need help all day every day. But please do more. We need to do more for the world.
In the past few weeks, I've felt completely helpless, especially when it comes to the recent hurricanes. I had no clue what I could do to help. I couldn't buy a plane ticket and fly down to physically help with relief. But you're damn right that I found a way to do something. I'm a college student with student loan debt, but I donated money to hurricane relief. I wish I could have donated more, but I sent what I could and know it helped, even the teeniest, tiniest bit. What did you do?
And this, today. I have no clue what to do. I'm still trying to wrap my head around what happened and figure out how I can help. This time doesn't seem so simple. I can't undo what's been done. I can't personally hug each and every person affected. I can't sit down and talk with those who are sad and grieving. Sure, I can donate more money. Sure, I can send out a tweet with a hashtag or a Facebook article with a lengthy caption. Sure, I can write this blog post and hope someone reads it and does something worthwhile to try to help. I'm honestly at a loss and so unsure of so many things right now.
But I am sure of a couple things. I am sad and angry and pissed off and confused and worried. But I'm also motivated, and I hope you are, too. I am motivated to keep pushing and fighting. I am dedicated to spreading love and kindness and peace and inspiring others to help make the world a better place.
Please do something today — and tomorrow and the next day and every day from now on — to make a difference. I don't care what it is, but you need to do something. We all do. Send a tweet with a hashtag dedicated to the victims of last night's attack. Post an article on Facebook. Donate money to the families of the victims. Ask someone if they're ok. Buy someone's coffee. Smile at someone on the street. Don't get mad at the person who cuts you off in traffic — maybe they had a really good reason.
I truly believe if everyone in this world did at least one more kind thing each day and took the time to be kind and loving and caring and understanding, this world could really be a better place.
I know I had more to say, but I honestly can't think of it right now. I spent a two hour drive this morning getting worked up and thinking of things to say. But I've said one thing for sure that I want you to know: we have the power to make the world better. But we have to actually do something. So go, do something.
What are you doing to help others today? Stay pissed off and make a difference, friends.
Lots of love,
Sarah