Life Lessons Learned from 9/11

Life Lessons We Can Learn From 9/11
As we mark the 10^th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on our country, we know our country has never been the same. The photos and stories are heartbreaking, but there are lessons we can take away about life, love, and the power of hope.

1.The next day is never promised-If there is anything we can take away from 9/11, it is that tomorrow is never a promise. There is a Nickelback song that goes, “Each day is a gift, and not a given right,” and that couldn’t be truer. Live in the moment and do what you love, because you never know what tomorrow brings.

2. Always tell your parents you love them- Thousands of parents lost children that day, and thousands of children lost a parent. Remind your parents how much you love them each and every day; they’ve done a lot for you!

3. Never go to bed angry at the people you love- I recall reading a story of a woman who was about to get on an elevator in the World Trade Center that morning when the first plane slammed into the upper floors, sending a giant fireball of jet fuel billowing down the elevator shaft. She was immediately engulfed in flames, and luckily was taken to safety and has since recovered (although she had burns on 80% of her body). During her ordeal, she recalled how she and her husband fought the night before, where she told him she couldn’t believe she was married to him. She couldn’t have those words be the last words to her husband, and she fought to survive. Like mentioned before, tomorrow is never promised so don’t ever fall asleep angry with the people you love. Call your boyfriend and work out your problems, or let your friends know how much you care about them. Say ‘I Love You’ to your loved ones before you go to bed, no matter the circumstances.

4. Don’t sweat the small stuff- There are some days where I simply don’t want to deal with any people, problems, or issues. But when I put my problems in perspective, they don’t even compare. There are people out there dealing with much larger problems than I am, and it seems rather trivial of me to be complaining. I was almost 11 when the attacks occurred, and there were many kids my age at the time that lost a parent in the attacks and have since grown up without them. When you put your problems in perspective, they suddenly seem much more manageable.

5. Thank a soldier/firefighter/police officer- This one’s pretty self-explanatory. These people risk their lives every day for us, and they do it because they want to. Seeing everyone run away from the twin towers while these people ran toward them reminds us how much these soldiers, firefighters and police officers sacrifice for our safety. If you see one, thank them.

6. Never underestimate the power of hope- After 9/11, our country’s spirits were down, but we weren’t out. We lost almost 3,000 people, but we still had hope for a better tomorrow. Ten years later, we know that in times of great distress, having hope can make all the difference. While things may seem tough in the mean time for whatever you may be going through, the power of hope and positive thinking is a remarkable thing.

7. Anyone can be a hero- What some people forget is that United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked and prepped to crash into the Capitol Building or the White House. The passengers, after finding out what was happening on the ground below them, were determined to fight their fate. Storming the cockpit, the passengers crashed the plane into a field in Pennsylvania, undoubtedly saving a countless number of lives while taking their own. These normal, every day people became heroes. The firefighters who rushed into the twin towers became heroes. The people who helped others evacuate the buildings become heroes. In our lives, maybe it is something as simple as volunteering at a nursing home or homeless shelter, or donating to cancer research. America is a country full of people willing to do things for others, in whatever way that may be. And that is something to be proud of.