What do you say when so much has been said already about the atrocity that occurred at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando?
It does not matter – just say it anyway.
Speak often. And sincerely. Listen, too, of course. In fact, listen more than speaking. But continue speaking. Speak about your thoughts and feelings. Your confusions. Your fears. Just speak. Do not stop. Do not shut up.
What do you feel when so much has been felt thus far about the massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando?
It does not matter – just continue to feel, regardless.
Do not stop feeling. Embrace all feelings, including the particularly painful ones, the dark ones, the ones that make everything seem hopeless and pointless. Let those feelings unfurl unfettered and ultimately land where they are supposed to land (on their own time). Do not repress or restrict or rush your feelings. Give them their space and their due course.
How do you act when so much, yet so astonishingly little, has been done since the slaughter of 49 innocents in Orlando that terrible day?
It does not matter – just act anyway.
Become an advocate, an activist, an ambassador of peace both within and beyond your little bubble. Give more of your time, money, smiles, hugs, kisses. Help a stranger. Then help another stranger. And then another one. Confront bigotry and hatred. Educate the ignorant. Do not count on politicians or holy people or non-profits to do any of the work. It is up to you to do the work, to act. So act.
We honor the dead through life, through living – but only through living truly meaningfully, thoughtfully, and passionately. Not through silence. Or through suppression. Or through inaction. The latter take an ugly, if a completely unnecessary, toll on you as an individual; and an even uglier toll on your community. Do not burden yourself and others like that. Rather, nurture and equip and inspire yourself and others to not only love and be loved, but also *to be love itself*. For that is whom the dead now are – love itself. And this is how we are to connect ourselves to them: *as* love. This is the way. There is no other.
RIP.
Edward is a digital marketing professional, political commentator, and writer.
