I rarely make posts like this. I don’t ever want to get used to writing posts like this.

It’s been a few days since the tragedy that struck Orlando and I want to publicly post my thoughts because I know there are people (perhaps yourself) who want to be reminded they’re not alone if you feel confused or upset.

For the past few days I’ve been deeply saddened. On the weekend I heard about musician/YouTuber Christina Grimmie, whom I watched for years, be killed while signing autographs for fans. This news struck a cord. When you watch someone on YouTube you get to know them, their favourite foods, their family, what they do on a day to day basis, etc.. they become your friend that you check in with daily or weekly. When I read on Twitter that Christina has been tragically shot, I honestly didn’t know what “shot” meant. My mind could not process a beautiful, 22-year-old girl who was living her dreams have her life taken away for no reason.

All we’re looking for is love and a little light.

Not long after, I read about the Orlando nightclub shooting, the deadliest mass shooting in the United States. Again, I didn’t know what all of it meant. I looked at a picture of the shooter and didn’t understand why this man would want to take away innocent lives from a place where people were there to promote love and equality.

Purchasing a firearm is as easy as going on the internet, putting it in your cart and (in most cases) you don’t even need to provide a background check. I read today that nearly half the killers in shootings between 1982 – 2012 bought their firearms legally under U.S. gun laws. I believe it. When I went to Nashville last year, they promoted guns on giant billboards along the highway and called it the best accessory. It makes me feel sick to my stomach.

We’re 166 days into 2016 and the U.S. has had 133 mass shootings.

You know what’s harder to get than a gun? A driver’s license, an abortion, even a full-time job with the amount of background checks and interviews you go through.

There’s been supportive hashtags on Instagram and Twitter, especially after Lin-Manuel Miranda made his speech at the Tony awards reminding us that LOVE IS LOVE.

Love is a word that we don’t use very often. We should use it every chance we get. Love is a word people fear because it means they can get hurt or attached. Strike away all the heavy stigma that comes with love that you see in romance movies or read in novels because everyone needs to know they’re loved. People need to be reminded that they matter.

Love means acceptance. Love means we are in this together. Regardless of race, religion, sexuality.. LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE.

You’re not the only one still saddened by what has happened this week (it’s perfectly normal to feel this way even if you don’t have a personal connection to the victims). You’re not alone. My prayers go out to Christina’s loved ones and to those who lost a loved one in the nightclub shooting and to everyone around the world who are mourning.

Every day spread love, but especially today. The world needs it more than ever right now.