Dear friend,
How are you? It has been an incredibly painful couple of weeks with the mass shootings and loss of life in Buffalo NY and California, and now Uvalde and Tulsa. As I have been sitting with the communal pain, carrying the families of those who were murdered in my heart, mourning the loss of so many valuable people, I have also been thinking about you and praying for you. We all feel the hurt. We all feel the frustration.
Something important for all of us to understand is that we all are traumatized by these violent and unacceptable crimes. We may not be as traumatized as those who are directly victimized, but because we are compassionate and care deeply we absorb a share of the suffering. It changes the quality of sleep, contributes to restlessness, anxiety and perhaps grumpiness or finding ourselves short tempered, quick to criticize, quick to find fault with others in our own circumstances. That’s because exposure to trauma activates the lower brain and interferes with more whole brain thinking. It gets us stuck in vigilance, anger and watching for the threat.
Important to all of us are two things—self-care and some kind of meaningful action.
It’s important that we connect with those we love, share our feelings and listen to what they are experiencing. Listening to our children and grandchildren should be number 1. It’s important that we are deliberate about spending some time in nature. It’s important that we give some time to meditation, especially breath meditation. These are just a few important tools in self-care.
Beyond self-care, we need to engage in meaningful action. There are some important opportunities in the next 10 days:
This weekend, June 3-5 is Wear Orange Weekend. If you live in the Denver area, there is a peace walk Friday, June 3 at 5:45 p.m. at Clement Park, Shelter M, 7306 W. Bowles, Littleton, CO 80123. The focus of this peace walk is on remembering and honoring the victims and survivors and committing ourselves to a future without gun violence. It is a time to come together and act together. Speakers include Attorney General Phil Weiser and Sara Grossman of The Dru Project. Partnering with Moms and Students Demand Action in this event is Colorado's National Council of Jewish Women. Enter from Bowles Ave & follow signs. *** Carpooling recommended! ***
There are many other Wear Orange gatherings in Colorado and around the country this weekend. Find a location nearest to you.
Next Saturday, June 11, 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m. is MARCH FOR OUR LIVES at Denver Civic Center Park across from the state capitol. This is a sister event to March for our Lives in D.C. and cities around the country. Born out of a tragic school shooting in Parkland FL, March for our Lives is a courageous youth led movement dedicated to promoting civic engagement, education and direct action by youth to eliminate gun violence. March for our Lives aims to create safe and healthy communities and livelihoods where gun violence is obsolete. Wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather and bring your signs. There will be food trucks and speakers. You can sign up here, and if you are not in Denver you can find an event closer to you.
I will continue this reflection next week, but for now, know that I am so grateful for you, for your gifts and for all you do for others!
With gratitude,
Vie Thorgren
Executive Director