This past week reminded us, yet again, how fragile life can feel—two shootings in one day shook communities across our country. Whether violence happens in a school, a public space, or to a person in the public eye, the truth remains: it is always unnecessary and tragic.

As a therapist, I often think about what these events mean for our children. Many young people are growing up in a world where news of shootings has become so frequent that numbness can feel like the only way to cope. But that desensitization carries its own risks. When violence becomes “normal,” hope and empathy can begin to erode.

That’s why conversations matter. We need to talk to our kids—and to one another—about what’s happening in our world. These conversations don’t need to be filled with fear, but with honesty, compassion, and the reminder that disagreement does not have to mean destruction. We can hold opposing views and still treat each other with respect and dignity.

True healing will never come from winning arguments through force. Healing comes from love, from respect, and from remembering our shared humanity. If we can model this for the next generation—through listening, through patience, through compassion—we create space for hope. And hope is what allows us to imagine a world where we can stand firmly in our beliefs without resorting to violence.