I watched in abject horror this morning as a Virginia reporter and cameraman were slain in cold blood on live TV.

Then on Twitter, I caught news that it was a disgruntled former co-worker of the pair who happened to be live-tweeting his own reaction and footage he had filmed.

I can’t unsee what I just saw, unfortunately.

Twitter has since suspended this man’s account and members of the media with good sense pleaded with others not to share it and give him the attention he was looking for (there are also news reports indicating the gunman may have shot himself and is in critical condition).

Not sharing it on social media won’t change the horrific thing that just happened. I’m still a little in shock, frankly.

If you’ve read any of the coverage of the shooting of Alison Parker and Adam Ward, you probably read that they both had significant others who also worked at the news station.

We didn’t share this publicly, but Alison Parker and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. We…

Posted by Chris Hurst Wdbj on Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Parker’s boyfriend shared a beautiful tribute to her on Facebook. They were in love and planned to get married. He said he was determined to share her story “because it is one full of life, dreams, love and amazing journalism.”

There’s a strategy used by people who choose to be optimists, to see light where others see darkness: three nice things.

Think of, say or do three nice things, even when it seems impossible.

“I’ve been able to show that fear closes down our minds and our hearts, whereas positive emotions literally open our minds and hearts… they really change our mindsets and our biochemistry,” said Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, a professor of Psychology at University of North Carolina.

I’m too numb about the shootings and can’t manage at the moment to write anything insightful about mass shootings and the glaring mental health crisis in this country.

So let’s try three nice things instead:

    1. It’s National Dog Day. Check out this trouble maker. 

 

 

 

    1. My girl Mei Xiang had twins, and you can watch them on the live panda cam.  

 

 

    1. Fassler Hall is getting even more awesome.

 

 


UPDATE: Then this happened Wednesday. So….