Yesterday our nation was shaken with the events at the Boston Marathon.  My heart ached for those affected.  The people participating in that event worked so hard, trained with their whole hearts, and were competing in an incredibly acclaimed race.  Boston isn’t something you just do-it’s something you strive for, work for, sweat for, cry for, and then achieve.  It’s BIG time.  I’ve read several articles, watched some live footage, and seen the pictures in the newsfeeds.  My prayers and thoughts go out to those who were there, who lost loved ones, lost limbs, and the spectators-especially children-who helplessly watched.  I appreciate our incredible first responders and service men & women who work tirelessly and fearlessly in situations such as this.  I feel blessed to live in a country where people still run toward danger to help in times of need.

This tragedy got me thinking about how we react in times of crisis and the moments following.  Our number one priority generally becomes our family, for which I’m so grateful.  We seem to rely more on the goodness of others, seek the good in those around us, and appreciate the little blessings in our lives more readily.  Sometimes we shut down.  We think, “what’s the point?” and we binge eat, stop exercising, sleep the days away, and weep.  There is a time for each emotion, feeling, and reaction.  No one can tell you your response is the wrong one.

I know that for me, the only acceptable response is to continue striving-even harder than before-to be the very best person I can be.  This includes the way I treat those I love, the service I give to others {known and unknown}, the example I set for my kids, the way I handle my emotions, and the way I treat my physical body.  This is how I choose to beat the enemy.  They would win if everyone gave up, turned away from helping, and ran.  Escaped.  I know that I benefit no one when my reaction is to abuse my body by the way I treat & feed it, and that those I love who were affected or lost their lives would not be honored if my actions were anything less than my best.

If we will all choose to continue making the best choices we can for ourselves-even those seemingly small & inconsequential things as eating 5-6 healthy fuelings each day, being active with those we love so we can be around as long as we can for them, and getting a decent night’s sleep so we are energized for the next day’s events-we are also benefiting those around us.  We are more prepared when tragedies strike.  We are able to more fully handle life’s really crappy things.  We are in a place both mentally & physically to lift someone else & carry them if needed.

We can be first responders in our own life.

Hug the ones you love.  Pray for those who are hurting.  Don’t sabotage your own desires to be healthy with the excuse that things are just too bad.  Instead, do something GOOD for you and then help someone else.  Look for the helpers and become one of them yourself.  As long as there is good in this nation-and people who are willing to continue doing great things despite the really awful stuff going on, we still win. 

images via: facebook