I heard it from a colleague. He was shocked I hadn’t
heard of the news taking over the TV, Twitter, Facebook, and the rest of social
media. I thought the most devastating part of the day was that I hadn’t slept
in 36 hours, trying to finish a paper. In the time I was sitting there
complaining about how tired I was, three innocent people lost their lives and
over a hundred obtained life-changing injuries.
Every person faces hurdles during their day, week, and life.
Some are small, some intimidating, and some seem like they could consume you or
as many people put it, some hurdles are “the end of the world.” We face these
hurdles differently. Perhaps it depends on our previous experience or maybe
some of us really are stronger or weaker. I’ve faced my share of hurdles and
I’ve confronted those that seem like the end of the world, but then I hear
about what others are going through, I wonder how I can even complain.
Six days ago, during one of the most incredible events
nationally and internationally, two bombs went off killing three and injuring
over one hundred. The Boston Marathon is an event to bring runners and
spectators together for a common goal and to share their experiences. For the
runners, the main obstacle was to finish the race. For the spectators, it was
cheering the loudest and hoping those they cheered for would get the personal
bests they trained for.
The hurdle no one could imagine was two bombs placed near
the finish line of the race meant to hurt and kill people. My cousin qualified to
race in the marathon, but an injury prevented her from going. My other cousin
and best friend were spectators at the race watching the finishers near the
finish line. They made it out safely, but many other friends and family members
are mourning the death of their loved ones as I write this blog. The injured
our trying to recuperate from burns, shrapnel injuries and amputations.
My back hurts and it always hurts. I have injured it many
times and now it’s kind of a constant pain. I can still stand for long periods
of time, walk and even run. Those who had to receive amputations after the
bombing will have to relearn these skills while using prosthetic legs. They
will never live a life exactly like the one they live before that day. Each
minute of each hour of each day, will turn into one hurdle after another.
How can I complain about a pain in my back, when many of
these people will never recuperate from their injuries that they had no choice
over? I could have prevented my injury, but these spectators and runners were
in the wrong place at the wrong time. It seems like such a simple phrase to sum
up such devastation. Any of us could be in that wrong place and exactly the
wrong the time. We then wonder…what if?
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