Positive Thoughts

I know in times like this, it's hard for me to even wrap my mind around what's happening, HOW this is happening, and also grappling with the feelings of helplessness that I have.

It's easy to get bogged down by the negative, and the overwhelming feelings of sadness.

But, sometimes we all need something that will shift our perspectives in the direction of positive, even if it's a slight shift. I found some comfort in these words from Patton Oswalt that I saw on facebook yesterday and thought I would share, in case they help someone else be able to shift their perspective into the positive:

"Boston. Fucking horrible. 

I remember, when 9/11 went down, my reaction was, "Well, I've had it with humanity."

But I was wrong. I don't know what's going to be revealed to be behind all of this mayhem. One human insect or a poisonous mass of broken sociopaths. 

But here's what I DO know. If it's one person or a HUNDRED people, that number is not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the population on this planet. You watch the videos of the carnage and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out. (Thanks FAKE Gallery founder and owner Paul Kozlowski for pointing this out to me). This is a giant planet and we're lucky to live on it but there are prices and penalties incurred for the daily miracle of existence. One of them is, every once in awhile, the wiring of a tiny sliver of the species gets snarled and they're pointed towards darkness.

But the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evil doers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak. This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We'd have eaten ourselves alive long ago.

So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, "The good outnumber you, and we always will."

Sometimes I need help remembering that there IS a lot of good out there. And even though I am kind of helpless to make things any different in Boston right now, I can make a change, and make a conscious effort to do something positive, even if it's something small, to make someone else's day feel less scary or uncertain. And continue to focus on being thankful for the days that I have and the people in my life.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and those who were hurt, maimed or killed in this senseless act.

And, just because I really need to say it, screw the a**holes who did this.