I was 14 when 9/11 happened. I grew up on the west coast, so everything had gone down before I even got up. I remember being in the car with my mom on the way to school, trying to comprehend what had happened. My mom was crying, and I just didn't get it. I thought there was an accident. My dad is an airline pilot, but we knew that the planes that crashed were United, and he worked for Delta. I couldn't understand why she was so upset. It wasn't until I got to school that I understood. I spent the next two days glued to the TV, trying to fathom as much as a 14 year old can.
As time has gone by, more tragedies have occurred, each more horrific than the last. The internet is a blessing and a curse. After Sandy Hook, I couldn't open a browser window, look at an instagram or tweet, without seeing the faces of those poor children and their families. It's enough to make me want to give up on humanity. But then I saw the stories of hope- a teacher who saved her students by standing in front of them, people running an entire marathon and then donating blood, and countless other tales of kindness. All of the stories inspire us to do something from behind our computers, but tweeting about hopes and prayers never feels like enough.
Even if you're not located near Boston, even if you don't have cousins in Iran- you can still use these tales of human suffering as inspiration to go out and help others. There are countless organizations to join- and donating time can be so much more valuable than money. Or, if you don't have a lot of time, donations keep so many nonprofits on their feet. These sites give some great options for helping in both your local community, and on a global level:
Go hug someone today!
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