Young people, I want you to know there was a time 19 years ago when Americans were so sad when 3000 people died in one day we all cried for weeks.

It was on the news as a terrible tragedy.

Newspapers published profiles of the dead, and books came out about their last words and messages and emails.

We learned their names and even grew familiar with some families in the news.

It was taken very seriously.

Now we lose 3000 every day to Covid, and the focus is on returning to normal. You don’t have to return to normal. Nothing about this is normal.

Grief is the response when we can’t do anything to change the situation. We grieve what is being lost. It is a terrible feeling but appropriate right now.

A note about #stayinginyourheart: it is a practice that can help us. Called "mindfulness" as well, it is key to staying human.

Being human is more than walking around, certainly more than shouting things. Ugh. It is experiencing our humanity, and that means all the passions and emotions- love, grief, sorrow, calmness, terror, fear. . . .

What will you do to #stayinyourheart? Cry? Play music? Write a poem or a letter? Welcome someone’s story? Offer a kindness? Stand up for a friend? Speak to an injustice? Donate to a food bank? Sit in meditation? Pray? Bear witness? Be kind?

This is our story of how we handled tragedy. Let’s tell it well and keep it ours. The others who are afraid to grieve will follow. But we have to lead. We won’t be ruled by greed or fear. We can’t. We love.