Remembering
Taking some time this morning to remember and think about what today is, the 25th anniversary of 9/11. I cannot begin to imagine what the families of the victims and the first responders are feeling today. I can imagine you, as well as I, remember exactly where you were and what you were doing at that moment. Similar to the day President Kennedy was killed. While I didn't know of anyone personally who lost their lives I knew people who had friends or family who did.
These are some of my musings. Reading your posts these last years, glimpsing the hearts and minds of the Youtropolis community, I know you've had some too. I would appreciate hearing them.
What I want to think about the most is how the best in people surfaced. It gives me hope about what is possible. We came together in love and peace and support as we did during Covid.
We share a common thread that can mend this tapestry we call humanity and unite us in peace. I so want to hold on to that belief.
We can never know the healing ripple effect of one small act of love and kindness.
Our differences don't need to separate us, however, they can be used to build a bridge to compassion and acceptance.
We can shine our inner light brighter on someone's dark day.
We don't need a tragedy to open our hearts.
Praying this never happens again.
Faithville
🙏🏼❤️
Present Valley
Thank you for sharing your response to my thoughts❤️
Slipstream
This piece is a beautiful tribute to the people who lost their lives and to their families and friends who've lived these past 25 years without them. People did show up for one another. No one paid attention to race, politics, or who you loved. If you were in trouble, you were rescued. That's what we should strive to do day in and day out--a smile, a kind word, a thoughtful act, loving our neighbor, helping a stranger, being a good Samaritan. Your statement, "We don't need a tragedy to open our hearts" says it all. Thank you!
Present Valley
I appreciate the solidarity of your comments, sharing in the tenderness of the day. ❤️
Evangel
Beautifully said! Every word is true.
I'll never forget the horrors that unfolded that day, witnessing the shock of business colleagues, all of us mesmerized by what could only be described as unfathomable. Then, the days of families searching for loved ones, haunting us all.
The experience of it all left me deeply sensitized to subsequent terror events of all varieties, including ICE terrorizing innocent people, Hamas murdering and capturing innocent Israelis, Israel bombing hospitals in Gaza, or mass murders where students are gunned down in classrooms.
It all could be avoided if we were all in alignment with our humanity.
We are taught to hate others even when we don't know those others, because certain forces profit and gain power by dividing us. But, having lived in a variety of countries for years at a time, I've learned that humans all share these fundamentals in common: we all want to thrive, we all have a deep capacity to love, and we all need others to lean on. This is why tragedies bring us together. We still feel the pain of others, we still want to comfort those others, we are still brought to tears no matter where we live, what we believe, or what our customs are.
Present Valley
Thank you for sharing your tender thoughts and memories.
I so appreciate the alignment of the hearts and minds of the Youtropolis community which you have given birth to. ❤️
Evangel
❤️🌻🙏🏻
Homeless Valley
Thank you for speaking the truth. I really like what you wrote. The news brings tragedy and we think that's all there is, but I think your post would resonate with 99.9% of people. We have to accept people for who they are and not judge their beliefs. We all have our opinions, and we're not always right, even if we think we are. There are many ways of looking at any issue, and the solutions that are legislated don't seem to fix anything. So, bottom line is nobody has all of the answers, and people are always going to believe what they want to believe. Even in bloody wars, the wounded are taken care of even if they are the enemy. We just have to keep taking care of each other, knowing this is the right thing to do.
Present Valley
Thank you so much for your comments. I really appreciate that you took time to post your insights. I totally agree with everything you wrote. Above all my prayer and hope is that we do keep taking care of each other in any way we can, whenever we can.
Wilsons Grave
Nice post filled with good and honorable thoughts. Thank you for the hopeful reminder.
9/11 was a horrific day for the world because America for so long appeared invincible. The aftermath put us in an altered state that justified the growth of a bloated intelligence apparatus known as Homeland Security.
That leaves me with some questions:
How do we teach people to have a heart or help them reclaim it now that the tech bros have taken us over, taking jobs and joys while reducing us to numbers.
How does anyone come back to love when political leaders continue to cast blame on the opposite party for all our woes, stoking anger toward all those "dimwits" of the other party, democrat and republican?
How in God's sweet name do any of us find the truth anymore when we've been so dumbed down by our new brain, the "smart" phone?
Things look pretty grim to me right now on multiple fronts because all the solutions we need are not happening. The war machine is now in America's streets with bullying ICE agents, homeland security tracking devices, and National Guard being at the ready to be dispatched to another city. I'd love some thoughts on this.
Present Valley
I am always so interested in your comments. I feel honored you would ask about my thoughts. Your questions are so relevant and on the minds of many people.
My thoughts, of course, come from my lived experience of being a realist, an optimist and being aware of my limitations and strengths.
I agree, things in our world are grim, chaotic and scary. I clearly know I can't do much about what is happening in "the world" so I choose not to put my energy there. However, I will choose to put my energy towards what ever I can do within my circle of influence as Steven Covey writes about.
I believe we teach people by "being" kind, compassionate, loving, honest, forgiving and patient. My experience has been people remember more how they felt being with me than what I said.
I like to keep in mind, to the best of my ability, to look inward when I am unhappy with something external to make sure I am not contributing to the problem. For example, Is there a way I treat a person like a number or do I blame others or use inflammatory language in my conversations. To help myself stay aware, alert and relevant I meditate, journal, pray and ground myself throughout the day, read and listen to uplifting information and surround myself with like-minded people whom I trust and can talk to. Life is difficult right now.
From your posts my sense is that you, like the rest of us, are figuring how to navigate what life brings you...maybe we get impatient with the slow progress.
To your point about the smartphone...I lost mine for a few hours a couple weeks ago. I did not like realizing how my ability to contact people came to a screeching halt and how dependent I am on that little lavender piece of titanium and aluminum!
Thank you. 😊
Present Valley
Oh oh oh how could I forget joy and gratitude!!!
Wilsons Grave
Good response and well said. I'll admit I'm grateful for my blessings. But when I see social progress do a u-turn and reject the values I grew up with, I find myself asking "why" and "how" did this happen, and "what did we all fail to pay attention to" as the darkness creeped into our social structures? Mainly, I'm disappointed and frustrated that so many people have become disconnected from truth and reality or have formally buried their heads in the sand.
Thanks for sharing your beliefs, thoughts, and the helpful strategies you practice. I can see how they'd be helpful to anyone.
Music City
This is a lovely tribute and beautifully written. I always enjoy your stories!
Present Valley
Thank you for taking the time to read this and commenting,
I know how busy you are😊❤️😊
Well Street
The solidarity that we experienced in the days and weeks following 9/11 extended to our NATO allies. Article 5 of the treaty says that an armed attack against one NATO member is considered an attack against all. The events of 9/11 marked the only time Article 5 has been invoked.
I pray that the bridges between us and our allies, now barely standing, can and will be repaired in a not-too-distant future, and for leadership that knows empathy, understanding, and partnership.
Present Valley
Thank you for taking the time to write your thoughtful comment. I appreciate the reminder about Article 5.