The Echo of Our Choices

You are immensely powerful.

My 19-year-old daughter was killed driving drunk and stoned.

Her mental health had deteriorated so badly from the impact of her mom's suicide that her life had become completely unmanageable.

It's not an excuse. Chloe is responsible for her actions.

She took a bend way too fast, crossed over the centreline and hit an SUV head on.

She badly injured a completely innocent grandmother and her grandchildren in the other car.

The young man in the car with her was grievously injured and came within minutes of death.

Chloe paid the ultimate price.

I haven't shared this before because I haven't known how to frame it.

I want to help make something good come from such tragedy.

I want to find a way to be more than just another voice in a sea of voices.

I’m hoping what I’m about to write might make a difference in someone’s life.

To me, this nightmarish story illustrates the incredible power of our choices.

The scope of the impact is almost too much to comprehend. Even 16 months later.

Maybe it always will be.

The fire captain and incident commander who retired after the trauma of this experience.

The courageous samaritans who stopped to help in a horrific situation dealing with PTSD.

The parents and family of the victims in the other car getting the phone call we all dread.

The victims themselves having to deal with the physical and emotional trauma for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The devastation caused to our immediate and extended family.

The experience of seeing my daughter's lifeless body.

The disbelief of listening to the corner methodically itemize the state of my little girl's broken body.

The mom and dear friends of the young man in the car, not knowing if her son was going to live or die.

Unable to work for 6 months because her son was hospitalized and recovering.

The trauma he's experienced and will have to navigate for a long time.

The paramedics and ER staff trying desperately to save her even though she was already gone.

The cop having to tell a family their daughter is dead.

Her friends crushed that they lost someone they loved.

The lawsuits.

Having to live with the fact that some people will understandably see your baby girl as a monster.

A dad running a repeating doom loop imaging if his daughter had lived and having to explain to her what she had done and what she was facing.

The scope of the impact of Chloe's choices is so huge as to be almost incomprehensible.

Here's the thing though...it works the other way too.

Your choices can have an equally impactful positive impact in the world.

You can make the choice to make a positive contribution, big or small, in every interaction you have with another human being.

You can make the choice to face your challenges head on and share your experience with people.

You can make the choice to show kindness and empathy when others can't see a way forward.

You can make the choice to #gofirst by sharing your story and encouraging others to do the same.

You can make the choice to encourage someone to get help, even when they don't want to hear it.

You can make the choice to mentor and guide others, sharing your knowledge and experience to help them build a better life.

You can make the choice to ask for help when you need it and give someone the gift of being able to support and lift you up.

You can make the choice to spread positivity and hope, using your words and actions to uplift those around you.

You are immensely powerful in ways that you might not imagine or believe.

If you think this might help someone, please consider sharing it.

Please love each other and drive safely