3 girls were murdered, yet the shock we should feel at this tragedy has been trampled over by a hate filled rhetoric that really is only shocking because we refuse to look at and change the real problems in this country of racism and poverty.

Can we move into a space where humanity and love is the response to tragedy?

There is suddenly a lot of space. I have more time on my hands now that I am not going to college, not doing the work. The temptation to immediately fill that space is strong. I wonder what the fear is around simply allowing the space to exist.

Have we become afraid to feel? Or have we been sold the idea that feeling anything other than the binary notion of happy = good, sad = bad is dangerous in some way?

It is incredible how the mind works, it is incredible how just in this short exercise I am unravelling a whole load of stories, beliefs and fears that I am attaching onto a spider.

The danger in my life at that time was real, but it wasn’t the spider. The spider wasn’t dangerous. This practice is not about unearthing what that danger was, or the other dangers I experienced, this is simply about finding compassion and understanding, and in doing that reducing a nervous system response to a fear or phobia.

The secret to happiness is freedom and the secret to freedom is courage. One of the most courageous things you will ever do is to finally let go of that which is hurting your heart and soul. Free yourself from the chains of other people’s actions. Step forward with loving kindness in your heart.