How a Survivor of the Paris Attacks Wants us to Be Better People

By James Mills, Associate Partner, Lighthouse International

The recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut and Baghdad have shown us all the most extreme aspects of humanity.

The most humbling stories have been the accounts of those who survived the attacks by the skin of their teeth. Below is a quote from a Facebook post of a survivor; Isobel Bowdery, expressing the stark reality of what it means to come face-to-face with potential death when she found herself in the midst of the Bataclan theatre attack:

“Last night, the lives of many were forever changed and it is up to us to be better people. to live lives that the innocent victims of this tragedy dreamt about but sadly will now never be able to fulfil. RIP angels. You will never be forgotten.”

Finding the Good In a Tragic Situation

What strikes me most about Isobel’s post is her whole perception of what is such a tragic situation. She captures the incredible acts of courage, positivity and hope even in the most terrifying circumstances. In these moments of chaos, Isobel and many others chose to see each other as fellow human beings and protect each other rather than simply worry about themselves.

Being Able to Respond Is a Fundamental Principle of Life

What Isobel has done is be responsible - to be able to respond no matter what the circumstances! Legends are able to emerge through the most challenging personal, social, business and financial situations because they focus more on how they respond rather than what happened to them. Responsibility is legendary foundational principle that defines whether we are at the mercy of our circumstances or we create the lives we choose for ourselves and those we care about.

Has Isobel's story helped you see how even through the most difficult circumstances we can choose to respond in a positive and upbuilding way?

Share in the comments below…

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