From tragedy comes unity

They call this a “milestone” anniversary, the 15^th Anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. For that, is it supposed to be any more significant or more important than the 14^th, or 16^th?  Are we supposed to feel any different because it’s the 15^th and not just a random year?

For those of us who live it every day, this is just another anniversary, another moment in time that our loved ones are not with us.  I’m sure this feeling resonates with anyone who lost someone, regardless of the cause of death. I have many friends who are widows and widowers, too many to count, and I know they feel their loss, too, not just on the anniversary of their loved one’s death, but every day. None of us who’ve lost someone on 9/11 think that our grief is any more difficult than anyone else’s.  Grief is hard, and it’s endless. But we move forward in life, because living stuck in the moment does no one any good.

But sometimes I think back. I think about tonight, 15 years ago, and how wonderfully normal life was then.  Jeff and I tucked the kids in for the night, with no inclination that the next day our lives, and our family would be changed forever. I remember that day as vividly as my mind allows me to, and I remember bits and pieces of the days and weeks following. I do remember feeling so much love from family, friends and strangers. I remember the wonderful way the entire country came together, bonded as one through tragedy. Patriotism was evident with flags being flown on homes, on cars, and on street corners across the country. Stores ran out of flags, and red/white/blue ribbon. No one would dare, back then, disrespect the flag by taking a knee or sitting during the National Anthem.

Let’s recreate the positivity that resulted from the darkest day in our history. In honor of this anniversary, find a way to pay it forward for the blessings in your life. Make someone smile with a random act of kindness. Buy someone coffee at your favorite coffee stop. Fill a bag of groceries for your local food pantry. Help save a life by giving blood. Or drop a dollar or two in the homeless person’s cup instead of just walking by. Of those nearly 3000 people who died, there were a lot of souls who were doing, and would have continued to do good things in their lives. Let’s make it our promise, even 15 years later, to continue that spirit in Jeff's memory and in memory of all those who died.

When hatred touches your life, touch others with kindness. The results can be amazing.