When I was a young child, I was oblivious to any bad things going on in the world. When I was an older child, at school I learnt about World War 1, World War 2, the Vietnam war and other wars of the past. I saw that bad things happened on the news on TV. Still, with the innocence of childhood, history being history, and bad things happening in places far far away, my childhood mind was not disturbed and did not become fearful. My world had not been touched.
My world, my reality, was Mum and Dad who knew everything and would always keep me safe, and my four siblings who could be annoying at times but were a huge comfort to me and my best friends. That was the stable haven that I was fortunate to grow up in. Apart from occasional upsets at school, nothing bad penetrated my world because I had that stable haven for my home and I felt safe.
I despair for all the children in our world who do not have a stable home where they feel safe. I despair for all the children in our world that live in war torn countries, who see things that no child should see, who live in fear every day of their young little lives and who have most likely never felt safe. Every child in our world deserves to feel safe.
Sometimes I wish I could retreat back into the world of my childhood. Being an adult can be hard. Being a sensitive adult is very hard. Being a sensitive and anxious adult is incredibly hard. Being a parent of humans in this world is extremely hard. Understanding how any human being could do evil things to other human beings is beyond my comprehension. Seeing the pain caused to my fellow human beings at the hands of evil brings me to my knees, knocks the wind out of me, and most definitely touches my world. I have shed many tears over the last several days. My heart is hurting.
I don’t usually talk about current affairs or politics on the blog because a) I prefer to keep it an uplifting and positive place, and b) I am sensitive and don’t like to put myself in a position where comments reflecting conflicting opinions and judgements of my thoughts could become confrontational. This is more likely to happen when you talk about sensitive issues like this. Sometimes though, things happen that affect me so deeply that I must speak my mind because to not do so just feels wrong.
What happened in Paris on Friday night. What has happened in Beirut, Syria, Lebanon and all over the world because of the beliefs of the hideous extremist group, whose name I will not type upon my blog, is atrocious, horrific, heartbreaking, terrifying, and so very bloody wrong!
I am heartbroken for all of those innocent lives that have been ended before their time and for all the families whose lives are now consumed by grief. I am angry! I am so bloody angry. How dare these people have so little regard for innocent human lives! How bloody dare they!
My one and only precious daughter is due to travel to Europe in the new year, first stop being Paris. I’m grateful she is not there now, but how do I let her go now without suffering horrific anxiety and fear. I hate that this is how they have affected me and so many people world-wide. We have a right to feel safe! My world has very much been touched now. It has been touched for quite some time.
I watched The Project last night and listened to Waleed Aly talk about how we can stop ‘the hideous extremist group’. I have so much respect for Waleed. He is incredibly smart and articulates his thoughts so intelligently. This is so very worth watching if you haven’t already. It goes for less than 5 minutes.
When the
power of love
overcomes the love of power
the world will know peace
~ Jimmy Hendrix
Ciao for now,
Linking up with Essentially Jess for #IBOT
26 Comments
Beautiful bittersweet words.
I cannot imagine the terror so many people face every day, let alone recent events.
Thanks for reminding me to watch Waleed.
It is hard enough watching the terror on TV. I cannot imagine living with it day after day or being caught up in a terrorist attack. It should not be happening! Waleed is so smart and insightful.
What a beautiful post Min. I also watch Waleed and he presents a very strong argument about why we all need to be united against this terror. It’s frightening being the adult and having to try and explain it to children too. Being an adult sucks sometimes.
Thanks Lyndall. I agree that being an adult sucks sometimes!
It’s scary. It took me a month after the London bombings before I would get back on a bus in the city. But you just do it. Because otherwise those people win.
It’s very scary Ness. Yes, we have to go our with our usual lives and not let them win. It’s not easy though.
Beautiful words. And WALEED FOR PM. He nails it. Every time. When he heard his own cliché, he was almost embarrassed, but I like that he didn’t stop himself saying it. Here’s another one: What the world needs now is LOVE SWEET LOVE. x #teamIBOT
Thanks Em. Waleed is awesome isn’t he? Love will win all the time! 😉 x
I was a bit the opposite when young. I used to struggle to sleep worried about bad stuff. Mostly I worried about death and dying and what that meant… no longer existing.
Then I read (‘Bella’ Annual or similar) and listened to stuff (War of the Worlds soundtrack my brother loved) about the end of the world and I used to lie in bed and stress about that.
I am sometimes thankful I live in a little backwater, but then I remember that bad things can happen anywhere….
Wow Deb – I wonder why you worried about stuff like that when you were a kid. I never did! My biggest problems were friends issues at school or if I’d got in trouble over something from Mum or Dad or if I had too much homework or something I didn’t understand. Bad things can happen anywhere but gee I’m so grateful I live in Australia!
You won’t find any argument here, I think this is so beautifully written and on point. It’s hard not to fall into despair, and it’s impossible not to fear for our children. Thank you for so eloquently stating what so many of us are feeling.
Thank you so much Zilla!
I know how you feel Min, Miss 19 is also heading to Europe in March … it’s a worry …
It sure is a worry Janet 🙁
It is so hard. We are heading to France and Spain in March. Hubby and I met when we both lived in Israel and there were bombings there too. It is hard to put that aside and trust things will be okay but I know the alternative of everyone retreating out of fear is not the answer. Xxx much love min.
That’s exciting Deb that you and hubby are heading to France & Spain in March. Are you taking the girls? I can’t imagine how scary it must have been to have been living in Israel when there were bombings! Trust is a hard one at times like these – that’s for sure! Much love back at you! xoxo
It’s so hard. The news was on this morning and my kids are saying ‘we’re at war!’ because they saw some sensationalist headline. Part of me wants to protect them from that, but another part wants them to know that this is a reality, but that it doesn’t have to be this way. I want them to feel that we actually have the power to change the world because I firmly believe that we do.
It’s hard to know the best approach for our kids Jess. I would lean towards protecting them from reality myself – at least while they are little. I do believe we have the power to change the world too. Love, compassion, solidarity will win in the end. xoxo
Min, this is a really good post.
I’m a in a similar position as you in that my home life was really loving and stable but my world outside my front door wasn’t. Clergy abuse really shaped how I lived and behaved. It certainly has lead to my PTSD, Depression and Anxiety.
But it also made me anxious to protect and care for others. In 1976 an incident happened in Melbourne that terrified many, adults and children alike. The incident was the kidnap from her bed of a young girl called Eloise Worledge. I was terrified that someone would come to steal one of my siblings. I used to walk my house to make sure all the windows and doors were locked.
In 1987 I was also involved (on the periphery) of the Queen Street Massacre. These events have certainly shaped the way that I live my life. I try to minimise my anxiety and my depression and I try and make the world around my children and my nieces as gentle and caring and loving as possible. At the same time I try to educate them without frightening them of the bad stuff in the world around us
Thank you Patrick. Thank goodness your home life was loving and stable, considering what you faced outside the home when you were a child. Good on you for making every effort to provide a gentle, caring and loving world around your children and nieces. xo
I watched Waleed as well and his message was a refreshing difference. There is not need for negativity and hate. Together we can make a difference and not react in the predicted was. It’s about being human. Thank you for your words. xx
Thanks Zoe, and yes I agree with every one of your words! 🙂 xo
As hard as it is we can’t let these events stop us from living and growing and exploring the world. What has happened is horrible and I feel for each one of those families who have been affected by events in all those countries you mentioned.
Walked certainly has a way with words, I don’t watch The Project often but love watching his take on current events as he speaks with such conviction and passion (and makes sense!)
Very true Zita. We have to keep on as usual and not let them make fear cause a stop to our way of life. It’s hard when you’ve got kids out there though – bits of your heart walking around. I watch The Project most nights. I love the element of *funny* – news delivered differently – it makes a nice change from the traditional delivery of news. Waleed sure does speak with conviction and passion and he is easy to understand, and bloody smart too! 🙂
Beautiful post Min. I can understand the fear with your daughter about to visit Europe. What extremists want is to instil this fear but I hope people don’t give in and continue to live their lives.
Thanks Sanch! Yes we all know what those extremists want and I believe the majority will continue to live their lives and not hide in fear. It is not easy though is it? x