Original Post September 11, 2009
It still rings true one year later. The questions at the end are relevant, even today.
Today I woke up with such an abnormal start to my day. In total transparency, I was completely drained and feeling blue. As I moved through the early morning hours, (too early this morning thanks to an eager, attention seeking puppy,) I was not feeling quite like myself. My motive for the morning was to get things in place, family out the door and a cup of strong coffee in hand. I was pushing so hard, I wasn’t even willing to take the time to make the coffee so my daughter and I stopped by Starbucks before school to indulge in a strong cup of the good stuff. To follow suit with how my morning had been going so far, the cup of plain coffee was horrible, forcing me to go back and ask for a do-over. Ahh, it had to get better from there! Right?
So as I progressed toward my first phone call of the day at 7:35 am, coffee in hand and comfortably situated on my Exercise Ball at my desk, I was set. And yet, even though all things appeared to finally be in place, I realized something was still missing. Though I couldn’t put my finger on it. First phone call went to voicemail. Second call went to voicemail and oh by the way, these were east and central time zones two and three hours ahead of me, and the calls were scheduled. As I was jumping in to facebook to sidetrack my frustration, I was finding my anxiety level increasing. This morning, this day, was just not starting out to be what I wanted and expected it to be.
While the day progressed, I was reminded via email of this very morning 8 years ago. I remember while in preparation for my days work the morning news stopped me short. The news of the attacks on America, on the Towers and the attacks on the lives of those that were strangers in a timezone different from my own. I realized this morning that while my day was acting strange and leaving me with high frustration, my day was NOTHING like it was 8 years ago. Not for me. Not for those who lost their lives and Not for the families who were forever changed. Certainly Not for the fabric of our nation. The trivial mishaps that were a mere hiccup for me, were actually becoming welcomed events in my day.
As my afternoon progressed and other things had impact and added challenge in the day. My heart and mind continually wandered to that place of sadness and even to an innocence (if you will) lost. I got to thinking of how it seems we have just moved on from the significant events of 9-11-2001 to something much different today. The flags have been removed from front yards. The street corners where strangers once stood with signs celebrating bravery and freedom are now empty. The sense of community that rang across towns, state lines and boundaries has been replaced with lines drawn on things like Health Care, Choice and Color. What happened in eight short years to the heart of our nation? How is it that we in some way have lost a sense of Truth Telling, Right and Wrong and even a Heart for what’s important? Sadly new lines have been drawn and it seems like we are in a whole new battlefield, on our soil, fighting against ourselves.
When did we as a nation stop taking time to notice what’s important? The passengers on Flight 93 had a clear passion and vision for what was important. The firefighters who risked and lost their lives in the Towers to save another understood what was necessary and important. Those who fled from buildings that were crumbling above them clearly got what was important. We can stand or sit and remember the very people and stories that emerged from the ashes on that day in 2001, the very people who stood on the side of What’s Important, and know their heart motive. But can we see that in people today? Are we taking time today to understand what’s important or are we too busy rushing, pushing, complaining and nagging to notice?
Coaching Q’s:
How do we find time for what’s important today?
When do we stop running, pushing and yelling and start listening and honoring?
If we have stopped taking time to notice, how will we find time for what’s important?
New in 2010:
What will you do in the coming year as we approach the 10 year anniversary of our Nation’s tragedy to be different in the world?
What will you bring to the conversation for peace, honor and patriotism?
How will you honor the legacy of this day?
