Dear Victims of Pain, Loss, and Destruction,
Wishing you, your family, your friends, and neighbors safety, calmness, inner peace, and happiness during Hurricane Irene. Just remember:
Of all things in life, it is pain, loss, and destruction that truly unite us. We shrug them off, pay no attention to them, or laugh at them and think we are immune and invincible until they hit us too. And only then do we empathize and understand.
Who have you been in life?
Have you been someone who was lonely throughout grade school and can now immediately pick up on exactly who needs friends whenever you enter any room?
Have you been someone whose laptop was stolen and can now empathize with another victim’s frustration at losing so many personal files instead of simply giving advice on how to secure valuables better next time?
Have you been someone who was overweight and can now be on the verbal defense whenever someone cracks a joke about obesity?—especially when weightism is probably the most socially accepted “ism” in America?
Have you been someone who lost a husband and can now dedicate your free time to writing books, telling stories, and making art that connects and consoles other widows?
Have you been someone who failed and failed again and again in a certain class or sports competition and can now be one of the few to see and appreciate the incredible amount of work, practice, and dedication someone put into something, despite being last place?
Have you been someone who felt lost and out-of-place abroad and can now feel the need to help travelers feel welcome in your very own country?
Have you been someone whose home was flooded or destructed by a hurricane and can now weep for others, donate, or volunteer during future disasters?
Be grateful for everyone you have been and everything you have experienced.
The more people you have been, the more people you understand. The more people you understand, the more people you love.
Let nothing from your past be wasted. Things don’t happen for a reason. Things happen. It is your choice to make a reason.
The world will always need you for all the pain, loss, and destruction you have experienced. Your own special legacy is up to you and you only.
Love Always,
Nathan Chow