I find myself coming to this blog during times of tragedy and loss. I never intended it to be that way. My sister sent me a text message the day of the shootings. All it said was "MOTUS". I knew that this was where I should share my feelings, but I wasn't ready to do so, yet.
I went in to work on Sunday morning at 3am to cover the event. I thought reporting on the tragedy might give me inspiration to address my friends and family (or whoever reads this blog), but I ended up just becoming more and more emotional as I sat and listened to interview upon interview of families and friends who had lost their loved ones. Even my boss, who came in to relieve me Sunday morning so I could go to church, told me he had never felt so emotionally connected to a story besides 9-11. He worked and lived in Washington, DC on 9-11, next door to the Pentagon. Of course, he felt a strong connection then. This time he felt that tug because he couldn't get the image of his 5-year-old son out of his head every time he looked at the TV.
Having dismissed all thoughts of ever writing something uplifting, my mom gave me just the inspiration I needed in a text message. We were on the phone together when she abruptly said, "Hold on. Hold on. Hold on!" (I was in the middle of a comment.) "I have to go. They're doing an important segment on the news." She hung up. The text message came a couple of minutes later. Here is what it said:
This was just the inspiration I needed, and apparently, the world needed. While reporting in Newtown, CT, Ann Curry wondered what she could do in order to help. Here is what she did, an excerpt from an NBC News blog:
"'What if? Imagine if everyone could commit to doing one act of kindness for every one of those children killed in Newtown.' So that's what I tweeted. And guess what? People committed. I said in my tweet, 'I'm in. RT if you're in.'"
She went on to write that people have taken the challenge and made it their own. Many have not only committed to do good for every child, but for the adults who were killed, even the mother of the shooter and the shooter himself. People have such huge hearts. They know that everyone involved is heartbroken.
My favorite part of her challenge is her promise:
"I know the truth: if you do good, you feel good. It's the most selfish thing you can do. Right now, this country wants to heal. I think the only thing comforting in the face of a tragedy like this is to do something good with it if you can. Be a part of that wave."
Isn't that the truth? I am committed to do good. Start your acts of kindness today, to help yourself and our nation heal.
Share what you are doing. #28actsofkindness #motus
