When Tragedy Strikes

It has taken a long time for me to process what recently happened and to post this blog.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by the recent tragic event in Las Vegas.  While I was writing my blog “Timing is everything”, we were in the Sonoma wine valley region of California and learned through Facebook that a good friend of ours Chris (an airlines pilot stationed out of Stuttgart, Germany) we hadn’t seen in 14 years, was going to have a layover in Las Vegas.  Neither Josie nor I had ever been to the Vegas and didn’t have any intention of passing through there any time soon.  However, after contacting our friend Chris, we decided to meet him there for dinner.  During his layover and before our arrival, a lone gunman opened fire on thousands of innocent lives at the Harvest Festival concert killing 58 people and severely injuring countless others.  Please take a moment of silence to remember and honor those that were killed, and send your thoughts and prayers out to the other victims that are continuing to struggle for their lives at this very moment.  As Josie and I walked the Vegas strip, we were constantly reminded of this heinous crime by the postings of gratitude for the First-responders displayed on numerous large video screens plastered on the sides of buildings throughout the city.  Also, a constant reminder was the yellow crime scene tape, patrol cars and policemen surrounding the killing zone.  It felt surreal how something so catastrophic could happen and somehow life continues to carry on, people laughing, gambling, eating and going to shows as if nothing had happened.  When tragedies such as this happens, it leaves a gaping whole, not just in the hearts of friends and families directly affected, but also that of the entire world.  After arriving in Las Vegas, we learned that my cousin Debbie from Illinois was there in town as well and so we met up with her at the 55^th Annual Art festival in Boulder City, Nevada.  Debbie and I were never close growing up because our age difference.  However, within a short time of our reunion, we engaged in one of the deepest and most meaningful conversations I’ve had since undertaking our G.A.S.  journey.  Josie and I have been brainstorming about how to implement some unique Nature based therapeutic programs to help heal the wounded souls of this world and our visit with Debbie was very inspirational.  Throughout human history, Nature has been the primary source of  inspiration for art and innovation, just as tragic events have influenced us and created opportunities to help shape us into the caring, compassionate, loving human beings we have the potential to become.  To truly heal our hearts and souls together in harmony with Nature, it’s crucial that we honor, protect, and nurture Nature. It’s an individual responsibility to become aware of this fact and teach others how powerful our choices are, in regard to the purchases of goods and services we make and the overall affect we have on the health and well-being of our planet, be it good or bad.