Friday; September 11

I find it hard to believe that it has been twenty-five years since 9/11.  Before it happened, we couldn’t have imagined it.  As it was happening, we couldn’t believe it.  As we cleaned up from it – and embraced a new norm – we couldn’t forget it.  For a lot of us, that Tuesday morning twenty-five years ago is unforgettable and has left indelible marks on us. 

As we take time out of our lives to reflect on the date, I think there are a couple of things to keep in mind.  The first one is that there is a growing population that doesn’t remember that infamous event.  We aren’t quite a generation away from that devastating day, but a lot of the people serving in the military or as first responders hadn’t even been born by 2001.  Because of this, their view of the world is apt to be different than ours.  I don’t know that one is better than the other, but as we try to work together, we need to keep in mind that we are bound to think differently.

Another thing to remember is that even though it is comfortable to get used to a mundane world, things can change in a heartbeat.  Is that scary; yes, but it’s also a certainty.  With the passing of each day, year, event and decade things change.  That’s life.  Let’s be careful that we don’t allow nostalgia to ruin our ability to move forward.  Let’s recall history, but deal with the present as we move into the future.

Whether we ever set aside September 11 as a national holiday or not, let’s remember some powerful images that came from that day – and learn the lessons that only enduring tragedy can teach us.  Our generation will never be the same, so let’s use what we have learned to help the next one be better.

Think About It!

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