Live Big

There is so much going around about the Boston explosions. In the gym today, that’s all that was on tv. Such a sad and shocking event. From the clips they keep showing, it’s amazing there were not more deaths. A small comfort in the midst of tragedy.

The number of individuals with lost limbs is made especially devastating when I think about the runners. The level of athleticism needed to run a marathon - how devoted you have to be to caring and maintaining your body to prepare for something like that. Understanding what it means to a runner to put on their shoes and go. I think for people that are serious about it, running is almost spiritual. I mean, I’ve never been serious about it and it’s been that way for me. So to think about a runner, doing what they love – adrenaline pumping, in the euphoric runners high, pushing their bodies to run faster and harder nearing the finish line. And in an instant their body, their tool, is forever changed.

I realize a large number of bystanders were injured too – and I’m not belittling their loss in any way. It’s dramatic for anyone. I sit on my butt all day and do nothing and I would be devastated. But for a runner, it just seems especially cruel.

My husband doesn’t believe they should put it on television, he feels like it glorifies the act. Maybe it does. But I’m glad it’s on television, I’m glad people are so fascinated and horrified by it that they can’t keep from watching the coverage. It reminds me how thankful we should be – thankful that we live in a country where it is shocking. There are lots of places in this world where it wouldn’t be. There are lots of people in this world who face that kind of reality every day.

Lots of people believe it demonstrates how horrible our world is, it’s rocked their belief in mankind. I think it’s exactly the opposite – I think it demonstrates how fortunate we are and reinforces my belief in mankind. Not only by all the individuals who stepped up to help each other but on a much larger scale. Think about how vulnerable we are – how truly vulnerable we are most the time. When was the last time you seriously had to worry about your life when out grocery shopping, enjoying a baseball game or celebrating New Year’s Eve? We typically don’t – we just move through life without really, really worrying about it. We feel safe.

In reality, we’re not. Not really. We’re actually pretty vulnerable. There simply isn’t enough security or preventive measures to protect us at all times. To understand that and realize how fortunate it is that these things are not common, that they don’t occur every day. I find comfort in that.

These bombing were a horrible, malicious, tragic act and I’m sorry that it happened. I can’t fathom that lose or experiencing that tragedy. I’m not making light of what happened. My heart is with everyone impacted – for recovery and peace in rebuilding their lives.

I am simply reminded that life is short and there are no guarantees. Live big and make it count.