One of my shortcomings is that I have a terrible long-term memory. I am a day-to-day task kind of day. So usually I don't remember where I was and what I was doing on certain days.
September 11, 2001 is different.
I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing. Do you? I guarantee that you do. If you are around my age (34), you probably heard people talking about where they were and what they were doing when they heard JFK was shot.
This is our generation's JFK tragedy.
Today people will talk a lot about remembering the victims and remembering what happened that day. i think that is awesome, but I don't think it's enough.
You want to honor the victims? Change! The one lesson we should all learn from that terrible is that tomorrow is not promised.
So why are you waiting to do the things you want to do? Take that trip you have always wanted to take. Get out of that miserable job you have been complaining about for the past 5 years. Do something about being out of shape and overweight. Take a day off, check your kid out of school, and just hang out. Do the things you say you don't have time for, but just haven't made time for.
Why are you waiting? 6 months from now you can either be 6 months closer to your goals or you can be exactly where you are right now.
Remember in the days after September 11th when we were so united as a country? People were going around thanking military and first responders. Politicians were working together. Neighbors were helping neighbors. Where are we now? How soon we forget. The further we get away from events like this, the easier it is to let it drift from the forefront of our brain.
It shouldn't take a tragedy to spur you on to action. You want to honor the victims? Honor them by becoming the person you have always wanted to be. The person you know you can be and deserve to be.
What greater tribute could you offer? You say you wil never forget, it is time to prove it.
Related articles
- 9/11: Strength through Tragedy (pshomegazette.com)