It’s Monday morning, April 9, 2018 and life goes on. In the wake of the horrific accident that happened in our province, life still goes on. But how? How do we move forward from here?
It is not possible to go anywhere right now and run into someone who hasn’t been affected by the deaths of 15 members of one hockey team. Either you know someone directly or know someone who knows someone. And even those who don’t, still find themselves shedding tears.
Tears… and a lot of them. And they just don’t seem to stop. The pain that we all feel is just so strong and yet so misunderstood. I told my dad the other day that I was just having such a hard time with this. And how crazy it felt cause I didn’t even know any one on that bus personally. But just couldn’t stop crying. Here is what he said to me:
COMPASSION! It’s called compassion.
Compassion is defined as sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. Wow! That was it. That was what I was feeling. It was as if I could feel their pain just by hearing their stories: the trauma, the shock, the intense pain. I could imagine myself feeling the heartache if I had lost my own two sons, ages 16 and 20. And yet, I just could not imagine what that would actually be like.
People go through trauma everyday. Most do not get the attention that this tragedy has attracted. Most suffer silently as the world continues on their fast tracked pace. Most will never receive the support and care that these people have. But we here in Saskatchewan, have shown our true colors.
If you are like me, you are probably asking yourself why you are as emotional as you are, seeing as you do not know anybody who died. Let me help you see why the emotions you are feeling really matter.
Have you ever walked into a room and you just felt like the atmosphere was heavy? Or maybe you felt uncomfortable and you just couldn’t put a finger on it? Or maybe you were with a group of people where no words were exchanged but you just felt like this was a good place to be? Or maybe you even walked out of a room and you felt so much relief that you were no longer with those people? This is what I am talking about.
Even though you nor I have been able to make contact with these people, they most definitely can FEEL your compassion. Just like hatred can travel, SO CAN COMPASSION! That’s why it is important to recognize that your emotions have a ripple effect that is travelling across this province. When hurting people say we felt the support, they are referring to exactly this. Sure, we as a province have raised over 4 million dollars to help the families involved but without the emotion, money is just that…money.
Your compassion, my compassion are vital for the healing and recovery for all those involved. Without it, they will not make it. With it, they will be able to endure the long days ahead.
Overcome with emotion, even as I write this, I am so proud to be from this beautiful province of Saskatchewan! May we all rise with compassion everyday, everywhere, with everybody!