Collection Dark: the batman

the batman

This weekend I celebrated my 55th birthday (July 21) - a milestone for me for sure. We went out of town for a couple of days just to unwind, re-connect and celebrate life, and for me to think about who I want to be in the next 55 years. I had actually planned to write about the process of re-invention for today's article. But the tragic events in Colorado on Friday can only make me think about the dozen lives cut short, who will never have a chance to shape their own future.

Ever since my daughter was born, I cannot help imagining that the victims of any tragedy are my own children. I think about this just about every day when I listen to the news reports from Syria. My first reaction when I heard the news about the shooting in Colorado was to feel as if a giant fist had grabbed my heart and squeezed it. My throat dried up. In the same moment that I offered up thanks that it wasn't my son or daughter wounded or killed in that movie theatre, I also cried out inside for the sons and daughters who were. I was angry and resentful. How could this happen? Who is to blame? Who can I punish?

But fixing blame and punishing the criminal (while necessary to maintain a safe society) will not change this essential principle: we cannot always control the events in our lives, no matter how hard we try. What I can control is this: this tragedy makes me stronger in my resolve to be more loving and compassionate. I resolve to teach my children that violence is a solution of last resort, and not to be revered. I resolve to let go of my ego when I disagree with my partner, because in the end my "being right" is a petty thing that I won't even remember a year from now. I resolve that I will NOT let a day go by without letting the people most important in my life know how much I love them, and that I see that they are amazing

Because here's the thing: while we can't always predict or prevent tragedy from happening, a world in which more people are in touch with their Soul is a world in which this kind of tragedy is LESS likely to take place.