Every quaint, small town in America, no matter how safe, no matter how protected, no matter how peaceful, no matter how historically crime free, has the potential to become the next Newtown, CT.
The day before almost every tragedy in big cities or small towns there is a false sense of security and surety that tomorrow will be just another normal day. If you talked to the families of victims from Columbine High School, Oklahoma City, Virginia Tech, the Boston Marathon, 9/11 and the rest of this unfortunately rapidly growing list of tragedies, I am sure you will find that no one had a reason to believe that their loved ones would not be around to hug the next day. And, don’t believe that it could not happen here; that it will not happen to you. That is the same way most of those families felt … the day before.
Now, I am not suggesting that this means you should live in fear or go into isolation. I am not suggesting that you should stockpile weapons to protect yourselves or live in a bubble. I am merely suggesting that you should not waste any opportunity to tell those you love, that you love them. Do not part ways with any loved one without first sharing a hug. Do not let tomorrow make you wish you had done something differently today. Because, you just never know.
There are things we can do to better protect ourselves and our neighbors. There are methods for being better prepared and responding quicker to limit the damages. There are techniques to heighten awareness and increase security. But there is no way to 100% guarantee that we are not the next community that the media descends upon to report on yet another senseless tragedy.
Hug your children. Kiss your spouse goodbye. Resolve those senseless feuds with family and neighbors – before it is too late. And, thank the heavens above for every day you wake up and have the opportunity to do it all again. Remember also, yours may be a personal tragedy not reported on the news. Your loss could simply be caused by an auto accident, fall or medical issue. But the loss will be just as tragic to you and the guilt of not saying “I love you” enough, just as painful.
Here is a link to a youtube version of a video poem dedicated to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy that sums up what I am trying to say: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW-tW2CLlqQ
Have a pleasant day and keep in mind those who have been touched by recent tragedies. We do need to keep on living but we should never forget those who cannot.