Thursday, January 16, 2025
Are you still emotionally shaken by the violent, seemingly random acts that occurred shortly before we turned the calendar and again on New Year’s Day?
On Dec. 22, a woman was burned alive on a Brooklyn subway train. On New Year’s Eve, a man was critically injured when he was pushed into the path of an oncoming subway train in Manhattan.
On Jan. 1, the year just hours old, we awoke to the news of multiple deaths and dozens of injuries when a pickup truck plowed into a crowd of revelers on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Later that morning, a Tesla Cybertruck detonated outside a Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, killing the driver and injuring seven others. And four gunmen opened fire outside a nightclub in Queens that night, injuring 10.
When these kinds of headlines intrude into our lives, we may feel as though the world is unraveling. The ripple effects are profound: Lives are lost or forever changed, public spaces are emptied, and once-reliable joys like festivals, parades and football bowl games are relegated to the realm of unimportance.
This sense of being constantly on edge is exhausting. But amid the grief and uncertainty, there are ways to process our emotions, respond constructively, and help ourselves and others find solace and strength.
What should we do?
When violence or tragedy strikes, the first imperative is safety. Avoiding high-risk situations and being vigilant in public spaces are more important than ever.
We must also safeguard our emotional and psychological well-being. Start with staying informed, but not letting yourself be overwhelmed. The 24-hour news cycle has a way of amplifying fear, and while information is crucial, it’s equally important to recognize when it’s time to step back. Be selective about your sources of information, and balance the hard truths of current events with stories that remind you of the good in humanity.
It’s also essential to strengthen our communities.
Feeling under siege isolates us, making us retreat into individual fear. But fear is best countered collectively. Reach out to neighbors, join local groups or participate in civic events that promote unity.
Advocate for solutions. Moments of crisis are not always random acts of chaos; they are often symptoms of systemic issues, whether it’s gun violence, mental health crises or deep societal divisions. Supporting policies and groups that address these root causes — and working constructively with people whose opinions differ on the issues — is one way to reclaim a sense of agency in a world that feels out of control.
How should we feel?
The emotions stirred by these tragedies are complex and valid. There’s fear, anger, sadness and sometimes even guilt — guilt over feeling powerless or for wanting to escape the constant barrage of bad news. It’s important to allow yourself to feel these emotions without judgment.
Be resilient. Focus on what you can control. Small, deliberate acts — reaching out to a friend, writing to a policymaker or simply stepping outside for a walk — can help restore a sense of balance. While we may not be able to prevent every tragedy, we can control how we respond to them.
How can we help?
Be present. Show up for others. Simple gestures, such as offering an attentive ear or a comforting word, are appreciated.
Help the people who are directly affected. Donate to relief funds, volunteer at community centers or contribute to organizations addressing the systemic causes of violence and instability.
Share stories of courage, kindness and resilience. Elevate these stories — not in an effort to persuade others to ignore the pain, but to remind you and them that even in the darkest moments, light filters through.
Feeling under siege doesn’t mean we are powerless. It means that we are called to action — both in our personal lives and in our communities. We are called to care for one another, to demand better from our leaders, and to work toward a future in which safety and joy are not fleeting privileges but shared realities.
