I was going to start this discussion reflecting on what I have been
through with Covid 19 and the eventual lock down that occurred
throughout the country and how that effected my social wellness as I
did not have the opportunity to go out with friends and family,
however, the news reported today that there was a murder less than
a mile away from my home. So, taking this opportunity to share
about that and how that murder is making me fell. As I wrote in my
first post, I am a recent widower and lost my partner going on a year
on August 25th 2021. The murder however is making me feel
thankful that at least my partner died with dignity, at home,
surrounded by loving family and friends. I need to be grateful for
that. The person who was murdered was a transgendered woman
who went out to the local store and is now never going back home to
loved ones and their loved ones will have the heartache of dealing
with the loss of someone who died for being open of who they are. I
think about and makes me feel sad and happy at the same time. I
feel sad that as part of a hate and biased that still exist towards
people of different lifestyles or race in our current world and that
hate drives some people to murder. I also feel happy that I was
fortunate to have my loved one died in a safe space and that gives
me comfort. Comfort that all the current rash of hate crimes will not
impact her. Due to my partners death I have been feeling stressed
with finishing my undergrade program and was considering to just
drop out, but with the death of the innocent person who was killed
just for living his/her life as best as they could I feel I owe it to my
partner, the transgender who was killed and to myself since I have
the privilege of keeping my education going. In my head it's my way
of starring fear and hate in the face and saying you can't scare me,
and I will go on and meet my goals to live my best life.
