The communities in Nova Scotia are experiencing immeasurable grief in the senseless murderous attack of their family, friends and co-workers. As Canadians, we have lost our sense of safety in our community. We cannot even grieve together. The threat of COVID 19 keeps us apart during this terrible loss of life. Gone is the reality of life that is no longer a reality. It’s the ripple effect of emotional personal impact. Think about the ripples when you throw a stone in the water.
The initial devastation is the victims, the next ripple is those who love them, family and friends, their coworkers, friends/schoolmates from their past, people who knew them as customers, people who saw them in the community and those ripples go out farther out and eventually touch the hearts of every Canadian citizen.
Those who knew the victims are waking up in a never-ending nightmare. Those intense emotions an overwhelming wave of pain. Grief has many faces. It is okay to feel sad, angry, scared, vulnerable, overwhelmed and confused. Let yourself feel it to move forward. We are all grieving together. We are all in this together.
It’s important to remember who is responsible for the tragedy in Nova Scotia the killer,
As Canadians, we are shocked by the number of victims, violence, and randomness. How could this have happened? Why did this have to happen? Many questions that will never have answers that could justify the actions of a killer
Are there lessons to be learned? Yes. Like any event any crime we can learn. The provincial alert system is designed to warn people of environmental disasters, of missing persons, and any other message to keep people safe in our community and country.
As the initial shock and horror wear off, we are filled with anger and frustration at the senseless loss of many wonderful people in our communities. The loss of innocence and trust.
It is the resilience of spirit, not letting this tragedy define who we are and our community.
Although we cannot grieve in the same room, give hugs and cry together, we are united in sorrow. The tears we share our tears of hope as the families of the victims and the Rcmp family try to find their way out of this horrible tragedy.
Will life ever return to normal for these small communities in world Nova Scotia?
It becomes a new normal, where the void, emptiness and sadness in the loss of my friend’s colleagues and co-workers remain a hollow ache and we learn to live with it. The RCMP has lost a college, Cst. Stevenson, who gave the ultimate sacrifice in serving and protecting the community. Find a way to celebrate each one, remember the special uniqueness, the things you liked about them, what you cherished about them. Honour their lives not how they died. Everyone will learn to live with this tragedy in their way.
It is important to remember seeking mental health supports for our families, our friends who work in the RCMP and reassure our children police are the protectors.
Carl Jung, “I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.”