Thank you all so much for your outpouring of love and support on Monday’s post. I’ve received many texts, emails, and comments saying how it resonated with you. Your feedback meant more than you know…like each comment healed me a bit, knowing that while we were all feeling this heartache, we could all support each other through it, even virtually.
After Monday’s post, I haven’t had any desire to share anything on social media. I’ve been pretty quiet on Twitter, and made a few half-hearted posts on Facebook but any attempt at social media normalcy has just felt…wrong. Because things aren’t normal. How can I go back to random tweets, lighthearted blog posts and Facebook updates when so many people are still hurting, still suffering? To be honest, I’m still hurting and reeling. I can’t even imagine what those who were actually in Boston are experiencing. So to keep posting like nothing happened just seems…again, wrong. Insensitive. Like I’ve already forgotten. When I haven’t.
The first thing I did Tuesday morning was go for a run.. It just felt right, like I was acknowledging all those runners and spectators who left the Boston Marathon scarred, either emotionally or physically. And I wore my favorite race shirt, along with many of you who also wore race shirts on Tuesday in honor of the victims.
This morning I went to yoga and set my intention to send light and love and healing energy (whatever all that means) to those impacted by the bombing.
I donated to One Fund Boston.
I don’t really know what else to do. And none of it feels like enough.
I don’t know the “rules” of when you stop talking about a tragedy. I’m going to try to go back to “normal” blogging with a sunny outlook (even though my outlook feels anything but sunny right now). I just feel like I need to put a little good back into the world, in whatever way I can. And hopefully, my blog brightens your day, puts a little good in your day. I really hope it does.
But I haven’t forgotten. My heart still goes out to the people, the spectators, and the runners of Boston.
Have you heard of ways to help? How do you try to help in situations that seem helpless? I read this list on CNN that help me decide on One Fund Boston.
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10 responses to “Blogging After Boston”
I did just as you did, ran in a race shirt yesterday and donated to One Fund this morning. Heavy sigh.
I understand your sentiment. I scrolled through twitter over and over again on Monday searching for updates (looking for the story to include a “why”, I think) but I didn’t feel like my voice had anything to add. I don’t know when it’s “okay” to go back to normal, but I keep thinking that for some many people, they never will go back to normal. I don’t know the answer but just wanted to say I think you’re expressing a sentiment lots of us feel. xo
I know completely washy you mean, Teri. I don’t know what the rules are, or even if there are rules for when things go back to “normal” – and even that feels weird to say because can things ever go back to what they were? No answers here, but plenty of support!!
I wrote about this a bit in my last post – and actually how I don’t WANT to go back to normal. I don’t think we should just move on and act like this never happened. As individuals and as a country and as runners and as communities, we need to reflect deeply on how we may inadvertently contribute to a society rife with violence. And when we do that, we can get some personal answers on how we can contribute to stopping it. These are hard questions that we HAVE to ask to prevent another tragedy.
You are definitely not alone in your sentiment, and thank you for sharing it.
Great post Teri — I know that lots of people are feeling the same way.
I certainly haven’t stopped thinking about this horrible situation. I thought about the victims while I ran today. I’ve been scouring the news for any glimpse of finding the sick person/people who did this. I haven’t forgotten.
I think all that we can do is to continue living life & trying to make a positive difference.
I completely respect your feelings and thoughts, i’m just doing things a bit differently. I feel like the goal of terrorists (and no matter who is responsible for what happened in Boston, they qualify) is to disrupt the joy in our lives, to make us afraid to enjoy our favorite things. To me, it’s been extra important to find joy in my everyday, to post fun things on Facebook and make my daugher laugh. It’s the only way I can keep them from winning.
Please return to your sunnier outlook when you feel ready! As a loyal AFSF Boston reader, a runner in Boston and a runner that was at mile 25 on the course when this happened (running while supporting an amazing charity-runner best friend) I certainly would love to “escape” all of this for a bit and read your blog 🙂 My friends and I are still running, both to keep a sense of normalcy and to show that we cannot be shaken by these horrific and cowardly acts. Cycling between profound sadness and anger is where I am at this point, so just know that when you do go back to blogging “normalcy” I will support you.
Obviously I think it depends upon the person as to when they return to “normal” blogging. I did do a recap on my time in Boston before the marathon, but I by NO means have forgotten what happened.
I don’t think there are rules. As a runner, this has really hit me hard – not to diminish other tragedies at all, it’s just that this one feels closer to home, I can’t explain it. All I know is that the finish line will never feel the same. I’m still recovering from a calf injury, just getting back on the road, running short and slow. That’s hard for me on a normal day, but after Monday it’s even harder because all I want to do is run, hard and fast and long. I can’t remember normal….
Mina
I ran twice yesterday.
I felt sad and down all day- I didn’t know anyone in the race, but you’re right. Running is a brother and sisterhood. I feel like someone tried to hurt my family. Thanks for telling us about The One Fund.
I’ll continue to sweat for the victims, it’s all I can do.