Be a Helper.

What happened in Las Vegas is nightmare-inducing - literally, I dreamt about it last night - and the airwaves and interwebs will spend the near future dissecting every little aspect of the massacre.

During tragic and scary events, we often read about how Mister Rogers’s mother used to tell him to “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” How important it is to see that “there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world.”

So how can we help right now? How can we we, no matter where we are, be a helper today?

Donate blood. In Las Vegas, blood donation lines stretched for blocks. Whether you’re in Nevada’s vicinity or not, your local blood bank needs donations, today and everyday. While you’re at it, learn about how to protest the federally mandated ban on blood donations from men who’ve had sex with men in the last year, because it is estimated that 360,000 would-be donors are turned away every year.

Ask why in all hell a civilian can legally purchase assault weapons and build an arsenal, even after passing a background check. Contact your representative and demand common-sense gun safety solutions, including dedicated funding for research about the causes and impact of gun violence.

And this is a little thing that I like to do, but buy someone coffee today. Whether it’s taking a colleague for a walk to talk, scheduling that elusive coffee date you’ve been meaning to schedule, or paying for latte of the person behind you, caffeinated acts of IRL kindness and connection go further than you think.

As always, be kind to one another. See you tomorrow.