Will I Die Today?

Recently, I went with my family to the world premiere of the Jane Goodall documentary, at the Hollywood Bowl, accompanied by the Los Angeles Philharmonic performing the film’s score. It was a beautiful evening and the sun had just set. And while I did enjoy the view of the rolling hills surrounding us and the stunning California sunset, I realized I felt vulnerable and exposed. Ten days earlier 58 concertgoers had been killed in Las Vegas. It was so close to home, that we even knew people who took cover in the Mandalay Bay Hotel parking lot when the shooting happened. And here we were at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, and I could not stop thinking about the possibility of a shooter targeting the venue. I found myself looking for the nearest exit or potential hiding spot. As a mother my first instinct was to protect my daughter from harm. Thankfully, nothing happened that night but I was shocked and brokenhearted that my mind went to that place. I am not someone who lives in fear. It has never been part of my life philosophy.

Even with the latest events in the last few years involving trucks, mass shooters and suicide bombers (Suicide Bombers versus Murder Bombers), I refuse to change my lifestyle and be victim to fear, associating it with events that should be about celebration and fun. It would be an utterly tragic if we lived in a society where socializing in public was consistently tainted by fear.

When attending events like a concert, festival or movie, we shouldn’t have to worry about a bomb or someone shooting into the crowd but unfortunately we do. When traveling, we do question the safety of airports and public transportation and the validity of security. When visiting popular tourist attractions, instead of keeping a watchful eye out for pickpockets we now must watch out for a truck barreling into the crowd. All of these incidents come up in conversation with friends and colleagues, which has encouraged me to write this blog and raise some questions. I don’t know all the answers but it is important to open up the discussion.

Socializing in today’s world requires a much different mindset. We must ask ourselves how our mindset has changed and how we can be vigilant without being fearful.

We encourage you to engage with us by leaving your comments below. Here are some of the things we are curious about:

• What are your concerns?
• How do you handle this issue on a daily basis?
• What is your thought process when making decisions?
• How do we talk about these feelings and thoughts with our children and community?
• How do we consider safety while continuing to lead a normal life?
• What does your support system look like?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments around this topic.