I ran last night, not at all absent minded of anything else to do to, not because I wanted to avoid the media onslaught that comes during these tragic events, no, I ran because others could not.
I ran because the cool air invigorated my lungs, my body - into a sense of drive, a sense of purpose to not let fear and cowardice rule my life. To not let the selfish acts of a few weigh me down, for I have done that far too long now.
This however, is not about me, the sum of this all is far greater than any one person, it is about all of us. It is about standing up to intolerance, ignorance, and hatred. That’s what this needs to be about.
Pointing angry, uninformed fingers at one another does not change what happened, it does not make the pain go away, it does not heal a wound.
I know many of you are angry and many are confused, however, acting against an individual or group because of ignorant fears is just as cowardly an act as the one that sullied this day. We are all better then the sum of our fears, we are far greater, far stronger than fear ever will be.
Many of you feel the need to act. Think before doing so. Give help and assistance to those in need, that is far more useful and much more resonating. Hug your family, hug your friends, maybe a little more tighter then normal, and be thankful you have the chance to do so.
It is my wish that one thing that is remembered most about yesterday is the love and caring for one another. In the darkness of horror, the light and love of humanity was at its brightest.
We will endure because we, as a species have hope, and that will always, always trump fear, because, simply put - hope is driven by good, and our capacity for good will always, always, outweigh all else.
I ran last night because I am a runner. I will continue to run, not from fear, but for hope. Hope for a better tomorrow.