In the Wake of Tragedy

Just a over a day ago 12 people were shot and 58 people were wounded in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. This tragedy took place at the midnight screening of the latest installment of the Batman trilogy Dark Knight Rises when one James Holmes (24) walked in through the rear theater door in a gas mask and protective gear and opened fire on the audience. 


James, a Ph.D. candidate in neuroscience up until very recently fled the scene and was captured in the parking lot with four heavy artillery guns all of which were legally obtained. He'd stockpiled the guns and over 6,000 rounds of ammunition over two or so months and rigged his apartment with approximately 24 lethal booby traps which took a full day to partially disarm. James was described in all accounts as quirky, quiet, and benign. 


This is my post because in spite of all the hectic moments that make up my life this story brought me to a full stop. Many of the known victims were age 27 or younger and one was a six-year-old with the same name as me: Veronica. Their whole lives were ahead of them and in a single act of completely unexpected violence they're no longer with us. The stories told by survivors and witnesses are inspiring in their bravery and also chilling. 



James Holmes relates himself to some extent with a character from the Batman series- the Joker who, in the most recent installment, was played by Heath Ledger. Witnesses within the theater claim to have heard Holmes state he "was the Joker" and now details have surfaced that when arrested, he continued in that vein. What happens when life imitates art and the likeness is not one of beauty but of horror? In the wake of this event, gun laws are being called into question and the general public has plenty to say on the topic, even on the news coverage itself. 


I may be miles away and well out of direct danger but this story made me stop and re-think the way I live. I am happy in my lifestyle but I tend to get caught up in working for my goal. Perhaps, and this is only speculation, the reason the seemingly innocuous James transformed into the killer we now know is that he failed in getting his Ph.D.. 


So what can we who are not directly involved take from this? This tragedy serves as a reminder that though we are all busy living our lives and working, we need to take a minute and enjoy what we've got. Don't beat yourself up over not reaching your goal the way you wanted. If one thing doesn't pan out, work around it. There is always another way it just may be less obvious. Make sure you celebrate your small victories, if you feel that you're continually achieving something you'll be more able to readjust if you need to.