When I started this Blog I promised myself one thing, ‘not to use my Blog as a platform for news or political viewpoints.’ My intention was to keep this space lighthearted, happy and fun. But, then I realized that is not such of life and while this Blog is deeply rooted in motherhood and parenting, it too is about living in general. At the end of the day, I would describe my content as a celebration of motherhood and ultimately a space that inspires just that as well.

So, while this may not seem or feel like the right place, I felt a nagging to let my emotions ride the waves of my words.

Living is what this Blog is about. Therefore, when life is taken and so horrifically and even so massively, we feel raw and hurt and helpless and a slew of other emotions.

As the tragic news out of Orlando presented itself yesterday morning and as more and more details were shared and released I began to feel quite numb, and then this morning, I finally cried. My heart broke as I washed my hands in the bathroom. I looked into the mirror saw my reflection and felt hopeless, enraged and distraught. How does Hate exist at this level? I looked at myself and thought, ‘What can I do?’

49 people are dead and 50+ injured. Lives taken from this world over one person’s beliefs. The city of Orlando is shaken and heartbroken. And, the LGBT community is mourning not only the loss of many lives but an attack on their rights and freedoms in this world.

Regardless of what you believe, can we stop judging people and start seeing people? That is it, my goodness, so simple –  just start seeing people. Other human beings who have a brain, a beating heart and a soul. Other human beings who are a sister, brother, father, mother, someone’s child and someone’s best friend. I believe that it is not my place on this Earth to judge and it is not part of my job description as a human in this world, to do so either. And, when I do make a natural decision to like or not like another human being, at the end of the day it does not come down to sex, age, race, religion or sexual orientation but their character. For that I am proud and I challenge us all to begin operating in such a way.

So, what can I do?

Well, I can love. I can be kind. I can spread words of encouragement and hope. I can reach out. I can be supportive. And, I can pray.

“I used to believe the prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us, and we change things.” Mother Teresa

We change things. We change things. We change things. Remember that. We change things.

My heart and prayers are with you.