Today dawned with a message from a family member which went along the lines of ‘glad you are here this week; a narrow miss’; and we wondered why until I saw the horrifying news – about the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history :(.  My DH was right there, staying at the Mandalay Bay Casino, just a week ago for a business trip which was the reason for the message and I just cannot fathom what must be going through the minds of the victims’ families and friends.
And today, October 2nd, is the day India celebrates the birth of ‘The Father of the Nation’ – Mahatma Gandhi,  who preached non-violence (the UN observes October 2nd as the International Day of Non-Violence). I was saddened even more over this grievous irony.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons – Non-Violence-Skulptur from Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd in Malmö, Sweden

But in the midst of dark times, we can still hope and we can raise a courageous, beautiful tomorrow in the aftermath of today. Here are a few quotes from Gandhi, Rumi, Mandela to keep us going:

One of my favorites – ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’ – Mahatma Gandhi
One I found today and loved – ‘With life as short as a half taken breath, don’t plant anything but love.’ – Rumi
One fear I hope we are overcoming – ‘It’s not the violence of the few that scares me, it’s the silence of the many’ – Martin Luther King, Jr.
and be inspired by these
– ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.’ – Martin Luther King, Jr.
– ‘I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.’ – Nelson Mandela