When Tragedy Strikes #HumanityUnites
Words can barely begin to describe the devastation we see on the news, and in our social media feeds, from the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. My heart drops into the bottom of my stomach every time I see the pictures or hear the pain in the voices of those impacted. It feels helpless to watch, yet, most of us are limited to making a donation because we either live too far away to help, or don’t have the skills needed to help at this moment.
Shared Experiences Unite People
Happiness unites people, but so do pain, angst and grief. I can’t help but notice that despite the destruction of Hurricane Harvey, it’s also been a catalyst—and a very big one—that’s uniting people through our common humanity.
The everything happens “as it should” or “for a reason” part of me has long wondered if the destruction from natural disasters also serves a bigger purpose: To unite people. Natural disasters create circumstances that force people to remember what is and isn’t really important. Our stuff really isn’t important, and our differences are minimal when faced with a threat to our ultimate needs: Our need to breathe and our need to live.
Someone at an event I attended years ago, asked the speaker, a rabbi, “When are you closest to God?” He responded, “When you are breathing.”
When faced with the possibility of others not being able to breathe or, to live, most people naturally rise up to do everything possible to help so that another person can survive. So, they can keep participating in the greatest uniter on the planet, living. In that moment, our common humanity is larger than anything else. Humanity unites.
People Everywhere Are Uniting
In the middle of the devastation, there are pictures of people using their own boats and jet skies to recuse others. There are stories on social media of people asking for generators or other supplies and neighbors sharing. There are posts of people saving birds, dogs, cats, cows and horses. There are lines of people waiting to volunteer. Companies are making donations. People are donating money, stuff and resources. Our celebrities are planning telethons. People are uniting. Humanity unites.
[Tweet “In the middle of the devastation, people are uniting. #HumanityUnites #HurricaneHarvey”]
Humanity Unites
Every good deed that’s been done can’t be captured on film because there are simply too many of them. What an incredible thing to write – so many good deeds are being done to help people that you can’t capture them all. Imagine everyday living in a world, including the ones without a natural disaster, where we lived by the same principle that we do during the times of tragedy, the times when humanity unites. #HumanityUnites
If You Want To Help
There are many wonderful places to make donation to help the survivors of Hurricane Harvey. However, if you’re not sure where to donate, I reached out to some people I know in these areas for local places that are helping with the recovery areas:
JJ Watt – Houston Relief Fund
Church Unlimited – Corpus Christie Area
http://wearechurchunlimited.com/harvey
Some Other Place – Beaumont
http://www.someotherplacebeaumont.com/default.asp?sec_id=180015440
Donations for Pets
Since so many pets are being sent to rescue centers across the country check with your local shelters first. Otherwise the national SPCA is an option but I’d start with local rescue groups.
If you know of any other local organizations that are helping in the recovery areas, please feel free to post them in the comments below.
Written by Pamela Gail
Pamela Gail Johnson founded the Society of Happy People in 1998.
The Society is grounded on Pamela’s four key Practical Happiness Principles:
Pamela identified 31 Types of Happiness that are on the SOHP App Happiness Counter to make it easier to recognize moments of happiness.
Pamela also plans and organizes the Society of Happy People's annual happiness celebrations:
She's also a speaker, trainer, and author.
A few of her personal smile starters include her monthly book club, yoga, traveling and meeting new happy people.