Boston Marathon Attack: There's Still Hope in Aftermath Of Tragedy

Impact

Everyone knows that life is short. It's a cliche that is pumped into our brains since the first time a young child watcher a romantic comedy movie. What people don't realize is that life is even shorter than what we believe. No one ever thinks that they will become a victim, a statistic. There isn't a single person on the planet who t wakes up in the day and knows that it is their time. Everyone wants to live as long for as they can.

With the tragic news of the recent past about Sandy Hook, Aurora, and Oak Creek and the breaking news about the Boston Marathon, it's all anyone can do to show compassion and empathy for those who's lives have been taken from them.  I was still very young when the events of 9/11 occurred, but I can distinctly remember it as being the first time that I realized that not only does evil exists, but is is a powerful force. Violence isn't something that is new in the world, it's always existed and it always will, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to combat it.

As the means to violence grew from sticks and rocks to guns and bombs our desire for peace needed to evolve with the weapon. It may seem as though the world is imploding into a hole of evil and violence, but it just isn't so. There is good in the world, from charities that will donate millions to Sudanese refugees, to a single mother struggling to get by that gives her change to the less fortunate she passes on her way to work. There are so many distractions to being good to all: politics, money, petty feuds and anything else that drives a wedge between you and your fellow human. At the end of the day all that matters is that you lived a benign life.

Think back to the days of Kindergarten and the days of the Golden Rule; treat others the way that you would like to be treated. It's a simple rule that is the primary weapon of choice for the lovers of peace to try and combat all evil. Being a good human being isn't an exclusive idea, anyone can be good. It isn't a religious thing, or a race thing, or any sort of division that is placed to divide humanity. It's something that we all can do, whether you believe in Jesus, Buddha, Brahma, Allah, God or no God at all. All it takes are small acts of kindness to everyone you know.

If you only knew ten people, and you were kind and good to them; inspired by your goodness each of the ten people you knew turned around and were nice to ten other people. After a while everyone on the planet would be unified in one beautiful kind message. I'm not naive, and I know that something like that couldn't happen, there is always someone with an evil thought and malice in their heart to destroy something wonderful; but couldn't we just try to be the best we can be? 

Take ahold of your loved ones tonight and cherish your time with them. You can never be sure when your life will end, no one does, so live your life. Don't spend it in fear, don't spend it in anguish, try your hardest to live the best life that you can, for those who couldn't. It is your duty and your responsibility; for the victims of violence everywhere, for those in Boston injured or dying as you read, for anyone that has had their life taken and the families that loss has affected.