I'm sure many like me have put themselves in Uvalde's footsteps in the past week. We've felt great empathy and compassion for the families and other loved ones there who lost their precious children and relatives. The horror is unimaginable, hurtful, and painful. We wonder how we would cope, what we would do, how we can prevent such horror and what we would leave behind.
To make sense of this carnage, what can we do?
Work for better
In every way we can, we have to work to better society so that carnage like this doesn't happen. Clearly if you look at the evidence, the truth is that guns are a problem in American society--we have too many guns, and those guns are not keeping us safer, but instead increasing the numbers of gun deaths by suicide, domestic assaults, accidents, and massacres. There's no reason why we need assault rifles in the USA, and there's every reason to promote sensible gun laws that keeps guns out of the hands of troubled, dangerous youth and others. If you're not part of the solution by working for safer gun laws and use, then you are part of the problem.
Live loving lives
In every way we can, we have to strive to live lives that promote the best possible loving relationships and care. We have to work against leaving people out and instead, work to be inclusive and helpful. When people are lost and troubled, they can create great harm. We can't ignore the signals of hurt and harm, but instead be courageous and helpful when those signs emerge. Seek the counsel of experts and have the tough conversations needed to make the environment safer, more loving, and healthier for yourself and those you love.
Live a good life
Sometimes bad things will happen no matter how much you strive to improve life and make better. That is the truth of life and a truth we must live with. If we do our best to work against the pain and suffering that occurs in life, we then have to do what we can to live the best possible life possible--lives that bring us loving relationships, good times, and positive growth and development.
Our lives hold great promise for betterment, service, and good times. We need to see that promise as the light that leads us ahead. Onward.