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Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2002
Dear Kate,
I was there, in Manhattan, the day the World Trade Center was destroyed. I saw with my own eyes the smoke that poured into the sky. I watched as one of the twin towers crumbled to the ground. My husband, who while I may be divorcing is still such a huge part of my life, is a New York City police officer. My life, his life, our life together, and all of our lives were changed on Sept. 11, 2001. And yet, today, I haven't a clue what I want to say about it.
I've hoped. I've cried. I prayed. I've been angry. What's next? What can we do next?
"Move on," has become a popular response. But frankly, I'm tired of hearing it.
We need to do much more than go about business as usual, because going about business as usual doesn't require a heck of a lot of thought. We need to think here. We need to be consciously aware, and we need to act.
But how?
Perhaps there should be a worldwide contest to see who can come up with and act out on the most small and kind gestures. Perhaps we can challenge ourselves and see how many people we can make smile because of something we have done. Perhaps we can do joyful things for ourselves to help us heal our hearts and souls, suffering because of these and similar tragedies. After all, we can't help others until we've first helped ourselves.
I've read, and believe, that we're all connected. What happened on Sept. 11, 2001, didn't happen to 3,000 people, it happened to an entire population.
Right now, "world peace" seems impossible, so out of reach and entirely unrealisitc. So much so that I can feel my eyes wanting to roll to the back of my head at the expression. But haven't we noticed that when there's the smallest apparent gesture of kindness and compassion, suddenly so much seems possible? We find ways--after all of this--to have hope. What's up with that?
Last year on this day we experienced an unfathomable tragedy, and yet we look for things surrounding the events that we can hang on to, that which also give us hope. These are the brave and bold acts, the courage, the determination to overcome, but also the small and kind gestures.
We are all connected, and even if you can muster up the thought to be kind to just one person you're otherwise inclined to react the opposite to, it makes a differnce. Thoughts, small gestures: They make a difference. They mean the world! Perhaps even in the literal sense.
Quote Of The Day:
"Oh yet we trust that somehow good will be the final goal of ill."
--Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Worth Noting:
In memory of all those who died on this dreadful day.
In The Background:
"In A New York Minute"
--the Don Henley version