March 28th, 2014

These last three weeks have been very devastating.  Two weeks ago my daughter, now 24 had to put down her childhood 4 - H horse Katie.  I watched her make the very hard decision.  She was so brave and did what was best for the horse.  It was heartbreaking.  The following Tuesday the news helicopter of the station I did traffic for crashed.  Right off the top of the roof onto traffic in downtown Seattle.  Although I did not know the pilot or photographer, everyone I worked with did.  Many had flown with the pilot.  As the news unfolded all day and the next it was so painful listening to my colleagues share the stories and memories of these two well loved men.  The following week, a massive mudslide in Oso Washington took the lives of many.  My nephew a volunteer firefighter in a nearby town is on scene digging through the mud to find his 14 year old nephew.  The family just ran to the store for a few minutes and when they came home their son and home was gone.  Charlie Harger  A reporter says it best.  It is taking a toll on all of us.  The outpouring of generosity and good will is incredible.  The head of FEMA who arrived on the scene said he has never scene a disaster quite like this.  When he arrived the people embraced him. He listened to them... They are loggers and know the terrain so he listened to them.  He said they were underway with the rescue faster than ever due to mutual respect.  Good things out of tragedy.  In the meantime, my heart is aching and I work on a music station WARM 106.9, we are supposed to be uplifting, light, encouraging.  How do I put on my "happy" face in the midst of so much pain?  The afternoon host and I addressed the issue and how people can help.  What I have struggled with in the midst of all this pain is.... How do I maintain my happiness and joy, when so many are in such pain?  It is a fine line.  In the past I would have thought.  I have no right to be happy with my life when others are suffering.  Now I see it as, if I can bring laughter or joy with respect, during a time of grief, then maybe that is my mission. 
My book was just published and I am so excited.
My daughter just announced she is moving with my granddaughter to another state.
I got another speaking engagement.
The mountain collapsed and my nephew and his family are searching for their 14 year old nephew.
How does this correlate?  happy sad happy sad?
I just know that there are so many emotions about these situations and I can choose to balance them rather than negate them.  It is okay to be happy and sad.  Joyful and sorrowful all at once.  The problem is when we let our guilt get in the way.  I had to put guilt on the back burner to do my job.  That is when I realized there is room for all of these emotions even at once.
Make it a great day
Coach Laurie