330: What if your son was murdered at Sandy Hook?
330: What if your son was murdered at Sandy Hook?
1Digest
This episode of "This is Actually Happening" begins with introductions and announcements about the podcast's new season, merchandise, and team expansion. The main focus then shifts to a conversation with Scarlet Lewis, a mother who tragically lost her son Jesse in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Scarlet shares her personal story of resilience and healing, discussing her journey of grief, forgiveness, and the creation of the Choose Love movement. She emphasizes the importance of choosing love over anger and fear, particularly in the face of tragedy. Scarlet advocates for a proactive approach to school safety that addresses the root causes of violence, emphasizing the importance of love and connection. She reflects on the polarization surrounding gun control and the need for courage in the face of differing opinions. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to embrace love and compassion, recognizing that true justice lies in learning from tragedy and using it to help others.
Outlines
Introduction and Announcements
This episode introduces Season 14 of "This is Actually Happening" and includes announcements about new merchandise in the online store, plans for team expansion, and a call for support through Patreon.
Scarlet Lewis: A Mother's Journey of Hope and Forgiveness
Scarlet Lewis shares her personal story of resilience and healing after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, where her son Jesse was tragically murdered. She discusses her journey of grief, forgiveness, and the creation of the Choose Love movement.
The Importance of Choosing Love and the Choose Love Movement
Scarlet emphasizes the importance of choosing love over anger and fear, particularly in the face of tragedy. She discusses the Choose Love movement's mission to teach children essential life skills and how to navigate difficult situations with compassion and resilience.
School Safety, Gun Control, and the Need for Courage
Scarlet reflects on the polarization surrounding gun control and the need for courage in the face of differing opinions. She advocates for a proactive approach to school safety that addresses the root causes of violence, emphasizing the importance of love and connection.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to embrace love and compassion, recognizing that true justice lies in learning from tragedy and using it to help others.
Keywords
Choose Love Movement
A non-profit organization founded by Scarlet Lewis in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. It aims to teach children essential life skills, including how to choose love over fear and navigate difficult situations with compassion and resilience.
Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting
A tragic mass shooting that occurred on December 14, 2012, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The shooting resulted in the deaths of 20 children and six adults, including Scarlet Lewis's son Jesse.
School Safety
A multifaceted issue that encompasses measures to protect students and staff from violence, including physical security measures, mental health support, and preventative programs like the Choose Love movement.
Forgiveness
A process of releasing anger, resentment, and bitterness towards oneself or others, often in the face of trauma or injustice. Scarlet's journey of forgiveness after the Sandy Hook shooting is a powerful example of its transformative power.
Nurturing Healing Love
A philosophy and guiding principle of the Choose Love movement, emphasizing the power of love, compassion, and connection to overcome pain, trauma, and violence.
Q&A
What inspired Scarlet Lewis to create the Choose Love movement?
Scarlet's son Jesse was tragically murdered in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Inspired by Jesse's message of "nurturing healing love," she founded the Choose Love movement to teach children essential life skills and help them navigate difficult situations with compassion and resilience.
How does the Choose Love movement address school safety?
The Choose Love movement focuses on addressing the root causes of violence, such as lack of love, connection, and emotional support. It provides a curriculum that teaches children how to choose love over anger, hatred, and resentment, empowering them to build healthy relationships and navigate difficult situations with resilience.
What is Scarlet's perspective on forgiveness in the context of the Sandy Hook shooting?
Scarlet believes that forgiveness is essential for healing and moving forward after trauma. She chose to forgive Adam Lanza, the shooter, recognizing that his actions stemmed from deep pain and lack of love. Forgiveness, she believes, is a bridge from loss and grief to a pathway of hope and healing.
How does Scarlet's story demonstrate the importance of courage?
Scarlet's story exemplifies the courage it takes to face unimaginable tragedy, to choose love in the face of hate, and to dedicate oneself to a cause greater than oneself. She embodies the courage to speak truth, to advocate for change, and to inspire others to embrace love and compassion.
Show Notes
An ambitious mother settles with her two sons into the quiet, idyllic life of her dreams, but after losing her son in a massacre that shakes the nation, she dedicates her life to carrying on her son’s message of love.
Today’s episode featured Scarlett Lewis. Scarlett founded the Choose Love Movement after her six-year-old son, Jesse, was murdered during the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in December 2012, which remains one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history. Through the Choose Love Movement, Scarlett teaches everyone from young children to prison inmates how to deal with feelings of anger before they escalate into violence. The Choose Love curriculum has been accessed in over 14,500 schools across 120 countries.
Scarlett is the author of two best-selling books: Nurturing Healing Love: A Mother’s Journey of Hope & Forgiveness, and From Sandy Hook to the World: How the Choose Love Movement Transforms Lives.
If you’d like to learn more about Scarlett, you can find her on Instagram @ChooseLoveMovement, on Twitter/X @ChooseLoveM, on Facebook @JLChooseLove and on her website: chooselovemovement.org, or email: info@jesselewischooselove.org
Scarlett’s story came to us by way of Todd Rennebohm. Scarlett was originally featured on Todd's podcast, Bunny Hugs and Mental health, which focuses on conversations with survivors, professionals and families of those who have lost someone to mental illness and addictions. So please check out Bunny Hugs and Mental Health, and a special thanks to Todd for referring today's guest.
Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Aviva Lipkowitz
Content/Trigger Warnings: divorce, guns/gun violence, suicide, homicide, murder, school shooting, death, death of children, funeral, Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook denier, explicit language
Social Media:
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Website for Aviva Lipkowitz: avivalipkowitz.com
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Intro Music: "Illabye" – Tipper
Music Bed: Ambient Themes by Nigel Coutinho
Services
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources:
National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988
National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
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