NINE ELEVEN

We lived through another anniversary of 9/11. This time of year is always a good one for reflection and remembrance. Not only is it bringing back a sense of loss, but as every year goes by, it also brings more hope and an appreciation for what we have and who is in our lives.

Television not only brought the tragedy into our homes as it was happening, it also provides some of the healing we need to move on. The shows seem to multiply as more and more stories are found and told. Heroism is celebrated, as it should be, and makes us wonder, “What would I do?”, if given the same choices.

We all can't be John Wayne.

Some of us are destined to do no heroic feat in our entire lives. No saving a life, no inspiring a child, no rescuing a cat from a tree. It doesn't make us bad. Everyone can't be an astronaut, a police officer, or a janitor. We are who we are. Dreams can make us be anything we want to be, but the harsh reality is, we are who we are.... until we decide to be something more.

There were normal people who saved others from an early grave by going above and beyond. Not just the fireman and police, but co-workers, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, daughters and sons. They put their own safety aside and helped those who needed it. Many stories have come out and I love to hear them all. Sometimes, faith in humanity gets tested, yet we have examples that show we can be something other than destructive, selfish, greedy, and soulless.

There is a growing realization that 9/11 changed people far more than we ever imagined. People became more than they were before. Not only families of victims, but folks from all across the world. More compassionate, more artistic, more driven to affect change, and a better version of themselves than if the planes ever reached their targets.

I have heard countless people say that it inspired them to do the things they had put aside. Painting the picture, writing the words, looking at life in a much different light and trying to make a lasting impression. Teachers, construction workers, retirees, you name it, these folks decided to be more than they were and the direct cause was an act of terrorism. There is a silver lining to everything, no matter how awful. Remember that the next time you think things are really bad...

Are you ready to be a newer, better you? You don't have to wait for the next September, you know.

Today is a great day to change.