the wrong reaction

I feel grateful for the safety of my family, friends, and, honestly, myself. I'm grateful that I felt inclined to leave work a little early on Monday because it was sunny and I'm still fighting this sinus infection and it seemed like the right thing to do. Because then, as I sat on our porch having just arrived home, Jake called and asked if I'd heard. Explosions. At the marathon. We had just been on the phone during my commute home, as I drove right through Boston, joking about the idea that maybe my brother secretly ran it again this year.

Is it wrong to respond to tragedy with thanksgiving?

I don't think so. I prefer gratitude to anger. One motivates positive forward movement, while the other instigates negative, retroactive reaction. That's why yesterday I chose to focus on the helpers like Mr. Rogers taught me to, and why today I focus on the planned time with family this afternoon. And why tomorrow, if nothing else, I will focus on the truth and beauty I know exists in this world, in stark contrast and opposition to any selfish, cowardly action attempting to prove otherwise.

Image above is a painting by Rebekka Seale- an artist and blogger whose work I'm currently devouring. Buy the original here.