We all have. Today, we no longer have to rely on travelers spreading information like a game of telephone through roadside diners along Route Nowadays the whole world is a social media stage, where everyone can step up to the mic and say hello and someone might listen. The tragic event was probably featured on the cover of every newspaper and was the headlining story for every news outlet. When the earthquake in Haiti happened, I felt more connected through Twitter than anything else.
I watched real updates from people who were there to help rebuild and I wished I could help. When the protests started in the middle east , I followed along and looked at one bloody photo after another and watched what happens when a country tries to silence your voice and shuts off the Internet.
When the Japanese tsunami claimed thousands of lives , I curled up in a ball and cried. I felt helpless. I could follow what was happening but I was merely an observer. So I just decided to set up a recurring donation to the Red Cross.
A few days later, something transformative happened. I sent an email to a friend in Japan to check on his well-being and he responded that he was fine, but he was trying to raise funds to get his neighbors some supplies and toilet paper. This friend immediately filled my need to help. I offered to supply everyone he knew with toilet paper. I pitched it to a few friends and, like many of my ideas, it died on the vine. I knew someone who was directly helping and, by knowing him, I could also help.
Even though I consider myself one of the most connected people on the planet, I woke up on Friday and bragged to a friend that I was going to go see Batman. She pulled out her iPad and showed me the shocking news about the shootings in Aurora, Colorado the night before. We all have different ways of dealing with tragedy.
