Heart Break And Catastrophic Loss

It is so heartbreaking watching the news coverage of the fires in California. Some are trying to paint the loss of some celebrities as equal to the average citizens. I'm in no way celebrating anyone losing their home. Most celebrities have multiple homes they can live in, but most of these people have lost their only home and everything they own.

You cannot understand the depths of the loss if you have not experienced it on some level. They have lost things they can never replace. Replacing what they lost is enormous. The loss of their businesses prevents them from earning a living. Homeless people who already did not have a place to live don't have any resources in place to relocate. The loss of famous landmarks is saddening, but the actual loss is much deeper than anyone can imagine. Most people who want to say "it's just possessions (stuff)" have never experienced a loss of this magnitude.

Our homes and possessions ground us in the world. They are our comfort and security and make us feel like we belong.

Money and donations will only go so far for these people who have lost childhood mementos, keepsakes, and family heirlooms. Nothing can replace precious belongings. This is a different kind of loss and can be hard to endure in the face of emotional devastation.

Victims may feel that the disaster destroyed, burned up, or washed away their entire world. Survivors find comfort in maintaining aspects of their normal lives after a tragedy.

Natural disasters often result in a complete upheaval in the victims’ lives. The disaster may make victims feel as though their entire world was destroyed, burned up, or washed away.

These events usually come with little to no warning, forcing residents to flee their homes with only what they can carry with them, casting them into a state of limbo, as their future is uncertain and they rely on shelters and loved ones for shelter and basic survival. 

Those who would go as far as to judge victims of disasters are engaging in “victim blaming” which is wrong on so many levels. Regardless of one’s status in society, loss and suffering should never be condoned or disregarded.

If you aren’t able to help a situation, you should keep your comments and opinions to yourself. We should all strive to improve the world around us and not cause further harm to those who have already lost so much.

Hatred and judgment are plentiful in the world as people fail to understand and show kindness to each other and choose to settle their differences with violence and bloodshed.

Sadly, there are always innocent people who are hurt in the process. Though they did nothing wrong, the consequences of the bad decisions of others. 

Often during disasters, some choose to exploit the circumstances and commit crimes which impact those who have already been affected. Looting and vandalism can further hinder the recovery efforts of these unfortunate people.

While disasters and tragedies often bring out the best in people, as they band together and help each other in horrible circumstances. You will also see the worst in people who decide not to help, but cause harm. 

 Be sensitive to those suffering and consider how your words might affect them. A catastrophic event inundates people with a flood of emotions and sensations. The catastrophic event leaves them overwhelmed, exhausted, heartbroken, and distraught. They need kindness, comfort and space to process. These traumatized people grieving the loss of the life they knew. Some will never fully recover and they will always carry the ordeal with them for the rest of their lives. It will affect their decisions and behaviors as they move forward.