I don’t even know how to begin today’s post… I had one all planned out, but after what happened yesterday, the words just wouldn’t come. I’m not a runner, but I’m a human being, and the tragedy that took place at the Boston marathon just breaks my heart…
Three dead (including an eight year-old boy), over 140 injured, and millions of people in shock – me among them. I’m honestly having trouble wrapping my head around the entire situation. I mean… what kind of twisted beast has to live inside a person for them to commit such a horrendous act against another human being? I just… I just can’t fathom it.
So instead, I’m going to focus on what I can understand – the rays of light that break the darkness.
Marathon runners crossing the finish line and continuing to run to the hospital to donate blood. Regular citizens jumping in to aid the wounded. Red Cross having to turn away donors because of an overwhelming amount of volunteers… No matter how much darkness surrounds us, there will always be light…
… and that’s a beautiful thing. What happened in Boston is a tragedy, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s not a reason to lose faith in humanity…
If you are losing faith in human nature today, watch what happens in the aftermath of an attack on the Boston Marathon. The flood of donations crashed the Red Cross’s Web site. The organization tweeted that its blood supplies are already full. People are lining up outside of Tufts Medical Center to try and help. Runners are already vowing to be at marathons in the coming weeks and months. This won’t be the last time the squeakers run Boston. This won’t be the last time we gather at the finish line to marvel how much more we can take than anyone ever thought possible [source]
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Boston. I don’t have a race shirt to wear today in your honor, but I’ll be rocking the blue and yellow all the same.
What a beautiful post. Love the quote about the light in the darkness. I actually didn’t know about all the help and support seen following the bombing. Unfortunately, I don’t really handle things like this (raw emotion) very well, so I’ve kinda been hiding from it. I only learned that it happened from seeing it on Instagram if that tells you anything. I just couldn’t bear to see the carnage and just knew my faith in humanity would be skewed by watching the news coverage…glad to see I was wrong.
I was there during the boston marathon weekend. So happy to be there until this news. I may have been spared by the explosion but I’m affected by it emotionally.
I will keep running for Boston.
Beautiful post. I love the stories of the runners going directly to the hoppital. Helpers are beautiful.
Love this post. It is so sad that we live in such a lost world. Luckily, there are still some good people left who are willing to try to help those who were affected.
It gives me hope that in all past and recent tragedies such as this that there are so many people willing to help and risk their own lives and give of their time to help out their fellow human beings, even those they’ve never met before. I wish things like these would never happen, but they do bring out the best in people, and that’s what I like to see.
Sending many thoughts and prayers across the ocean to all who were affected by this horrific and devasting tragedy <3
I love that ‘look for the helpers’ quote…
This is was so well written Amanda. You are indeed right that there are rays of light to break the darkness. That is such an incredible quote by Jodi Picoult!
Great post….and Mr. Rogers is kinda hot as a younger guy!!!!
My heart is breaking for all those who were affected by this horrific tragedy. I can only imagine the pain they’re feeling right now, and I’m praying that they’re comforted with both physical, and spiritual healing. It’s inspiring and comforting to see everyone in the community coming together, though. There’s more good than bad in this world, and good will always win. Hugs. <3 xoxo
Completely agreed. That’s the one good thing about these tragedies – they really bring out the indomitable human spirit. Love trumps hate every time.
Truly devastating. <3
<3
I love Jodi Picoult and that quote is absolutely perfect, thank you for that.
I absolutely love this post. As devastating and unthinkable as these acts are, there are so many amazing people who ran to help without reservations. There is light in the darkness. Prayers to Boston for sure.
Amazing, heartfelt post. I used to live in Boston, RIGHT near where the explosion took place. Even though I only lived there a year, Boston has a special place in my heart. My deepest thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was there yesterday.
Love your post! And I love that Jodi Picoult quote. YES.
Thank you for this and for keeping Boston in your thoughts. <3
Beautiful tribute Amanda. I still can’t understand what has happened but I am blown away by the heroism and support that has come out of it. Apparently humanity does still exist!
Exactly. We’re never going to be able to understand what happened yesterday. It will never, ever make sense to us. But, the love and unity that emerged as a result is beautiful and we can’t lost sight of that.
Ironically, I have a similar post that I’m working on for tomorrow. (:
Thank you for putting into words what we all felt in the face of this tragedy.
It gave me chills reading about the people that continued to run to go donate blood. Amazing…simply amazing. We do have the power to come together as human beings to take over the evil in the world.
Thank you, Amanda. Thanks for the reminder of focussing on the ones who deserve it: the real heroes helping others selflessly. It’s truly amazing to see how much kindness there is in the world. Media can easily make us overlook this – in general, not this case in specific – by stressing on the negatives.
My thoughts are still with the people in Boston.
Well spoken & thank you for continuing to focus on the heroes. It’s times like these that it makes me proud to live in a country where there is so much good despite the tragedies like this that occur.
it is the helpers that brought some light to me yesterday. those that risked their life to help those around them. it is that i choose to think of and remember.
I want to know what the person responsible was dealing with. Why did he/she do this? Did he not have parents who loved him? Did nobody teach him the value of a life? It breaks my heart.
Hurt people hurt people, though I wish that wasn’t the case.
Well said.
<3 It's amazing to watch how many people were running towards the blast rather than away. I have so many emotions, I shake every time I think about it because it's a mix of extreme sadness and madness towards individuals who do these things. Monsters, actually. It makes me sick.
Boston is and always has been a united city. Thank you for the prayers. We will stand strong together!
I’m happy that most of the social media coverage right now is on the heroes who went to help, rather than attempting to point blame. This whole event is entirely devastating, but I agree with you – there will always be light.
It’s absolutely devastating. Totally agree with you.
Thanks for this thoughtful post.
You know I agree.
Thank you so much for this Amanda.
Thank you for this post. There was the most amazing vibe of love rippling through Boston up until the blasts- but even afterwards, that love could not be stifled. People ran toward the bombs to help others before the smoke even cleared. People opened their homes to the runners who didn’t have anywhere to go. Boston is a city of love and hope and we will come back stronger.