Boston

I don't know anyone personally that live in Boston, or were directly effected by the bombings that took place yesterday at the end of the Boston Marathon.  I don't think that really matters anymore though.  In the past, one could look at events that were happening in other countries, or every once in a while in the United States, and while they could feel sad about those events, we still felt relatively safe and secure in our own little place in the world.  Sure, there was threats of nuclear war or some other terror on a global scale, but in terms of things that hit close to home, that list was fairly short.

That's all different now as terrorism, whether it's home-grown or from a foreign source is now more of a way of life.  Yes, it is not nearly as prevalent as it is in the Middle East, but our country, our region, doesn't really have a history of strife and terror on our own soil.  Hell, you get out of the colonial times and all we really have to show for an extended time of internal strife is the Civil War.  That's not bad.  That was an isolated incident that had a starting point as well as a general stopping point.  Sure, tension was still around, but it was not a constant fear that the Civil War would restart (at least after a few years had passed).

What I'm trying to get at here is that we have been a relatively secure nation for much of our history.  We are not dealing with car bombs and terrorism of any form on a daily basis.  We are not hardened to it like some other countries are.  We also are not as conditioned as other countries to deal with those attacks on a human level.  Yes, every law enforcement agency, especially those located in large metropolitan areas are better equipped now ever since the wake up call that was 9/11.  I am talking on a human level.  A level that allows you or I to process this information.

What we as a country lack in experience, we seem to make up for in human spirit.

How else can you explain people, just regular people not first responders, running toward the blast site, not thinking of their own safety as much as of helping those that are injured.  This is clearly a tragedy, but it shines a light on the triumph of the human spirit that those individuals possessed.  Their fight or flight response was clearly tuned to "fight" mode and regardless of who is responsible for this tragedy, one thing cannot be denied: we as a country, we the people if you will, refuse to let any kind of terrorists, foreign or domestic, scare us or shake our spirit.  We will fight, we will assist and we will survive.  Nothing you do will change that.

For those in Boston and those directly effected by the events in Boston, stay strong and don't be afraid to ask for help.  You can get through this, and you will get through this.  For everyone else, hug your kids, call your mom, do something for or with someone you love today and everyday.  Be grateful for the time you have and don't waste the moments, for moments are all we have.