“Let fury have the hour, anger can be power D’you know that you can use it?” The Clampdown by Mick Jones and Joe Strummer of The Clash

Tragedy can hit us on a national/international level like when forty-nine patrons of an Orlando gay night club were gunned down June 12, 2016.  The news reports of these catastrophes are immediate and spread like wildfire.  They are posted repeatedly on social media and looped endlessly on cable news stations.

We are in shock and disbelief when we first hear about the tragedy.  We talk to our friends and text the pain we feel to our relatives.  We are overwhelmed by yet another mass murder shooting with an assault weapon.  We feel powerless and hopeless.  We try to prepare ourselves for the next gun slaughter of the innocent.

When I first heard the news of the Orlando mass murder:

“All the losses I have experienced came as a flash across my eyes and I tried to hide from myself”

“I felt like someone kicked me in the stomach and left their book insides my guts.”

“I cried when I saw pictures of the victims on the Internet.”

“I threw my shoe at the television because I could’t bear to hear any more speculation.”

“My sense of powerless turned to numbness because I didn’t believe we as a country would do anything to prevent the next assault weapon murder.”

“I wondered why there were no obstacles to the murderer carrying out his evil plans.”

“I thought about the families of the deceased and the emotion overwhelmed me.”

Instead of quietly seething inside, feeling immobilized and useless, I said to myself:

“This struggle is a marathon journey, not a sprint.  Be prepared for small victories and many defeats.”

“There is a vigil for the Orlando shooting victims tonight in the Castro and I am going to attend.”

“The connection with thousands of others who felt the same as me was reaffirming, soothing and empowering.”

“I will mourn and organize.”

“I am going to work with others to ban assault weapons in this country and instead of withdrawing when I feel beaten down, I will reach out to others in this movement.”

“I will exercise strenuously almost every day in order to overcome my agitated depression.”

“I will look at this struggle as an opportunity to make a difference in the world.”

“I will not give up, but at times I will take breaks to recharge my batteries.”

“I will listen to Rock and Soul Music to heal, revitalize and MAKE A DIFFERENCE.”

“I will not let hate or anger consume me.  I will use those feelings to push onward.”

Dear Readers,

Please share your experiences with this tragedy below  or https://www.facebook.com/HealingEmotionalPain   Thanks!!!

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