“No challenge, nothing, can tear down the heart of this city and its people." Thomas Michael Menino
To convey Boston's magnificence with words alone is an impossible task. However, if there is one thing I've learned from being Boston Strong, it is that nothing is impossible.
Boston. Home of Red Sox lovers and “clam chowdah" enthusiasts. A city where tenacity is tangible and streets are illuminated by the glow of resilience. Characterized by historical defiance and an irrevocable sense of pride, Boston has always fought for what's right. Let's not forget, these are the people who dumped 92,000 pounds of tea into the Harbor when their representation was being compromised.
April 15 marks two years since the Boston Marathon bombings took place. The catastrophic events that ensued in 2013 will forever resonate in the hearts of Americans. The two pressure-cooker bombs exploded just miles away from the finish line on Boylston Street, but the devastating impact was felt around the world.
Instantaneously, thousands were transformed from innocent participants to victims of terrorism. As we approach this two-year marking, the details surrounding Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's current trial continue to captivate the media's attention and subsequently the audience following the story. In the midst of the craze surrounding Tsarnaev's trial, I think it is important to also remember how Boston became Strong.
Perhaps we have been allocating too much attention to the force that tried to bring us down, rather than remembering Boston's ability to get back up. In the wake of the Marathon bombings, it would have been easy to succumb to fear. It would have been easy to simply give up and let the terror consume us. However, we are not Boston Easy. We are Boston Strong. And even when terror looks the city straight in the eye, we refuse to be shattered. Boston is indomitable. In the words of Sir Papi himself:
Being resilient.
To have the strive to continue and the will to keep running. In 2013, the year of the bombings, 26,914 people ran the Boston Marathon. One year later, 35,744 people crossed the finish line at the 2014 Boston Marathon, an increase of 8,830 people.
Having pride.
Being Boston Strong means profoundly loving this city. From the people, to the history, to the sport's teams (it's Tom's world... we're just living in it).
Valuing community.
Loyalty grips onto every fiber of a Bostonian. It flows through their veins and is embedded within their DNA . The very foundation of Boston Strong is based on the city's unbreakable unity that manifests itself time and time again.
Showing heart.
Wholeheartedly believing that Boston will pull through for you -- even against all odds.
It happened in 2004 at the MLB World Series. It happened in 2013, when Boston shut down the entire city to pursue a manhunt and ultimately bring justice to innocent victims of the tragedy. And it will keep happening. Over and over again. This is the nature of the city. Bostonians' mouths may be big, but their hearts are bigger. A lot can be learned by taking the time to understand the core meaning behind Boston Strong. We must keep in mind the invaluable lesson that Boston continuously demonstrates: we are all stronger than we believe.
In loving memory of Krystle Campbell (29), Martin Richard (8), Lingzi Lu (23), and Sean Collier (27).
