Remembering Peace

Some might think, "Why would anyone want to remember the tragedy and disaster," I ponder on today, September 11th, 13 years later.

Well, I don't remember the tragedy and disaster.  I choose not to focus on it, anyway.  This day for me, 9/11 remembrance day, is about remembering the compassion and connection of people at a global level, and the immediacy with which the compassion and connection happened and lasted for days, weeks and months in the aftermath.

There was an opening.  We all literally opened.  We wanted to help in some way.  We wanted to connect with each other.  It didn't matter if we were in our little towns far away from the east coast and couldn't just jump in our cars, as so many did, to travel out and begin digging...or there wasn't a volunteer organization we could attach ourselves to, or a place to send care packages to...or if we couldn't open our checkbooks to make donations to the Red Cross...we opened ourselves and our hearts.

I remember stepping out of myself, away from myself, and making a point not only to look into people's eyes I came into contact with (my office, the street, the gym, a store) but making a point to receive others glances my way, and respond with a smile, even if momentary, and even if so small, the smile nevertheless came through my eyes.

I remember people connecting...standing in line...smiling, sharing, being so polite, giving ("No, you go ahead, really, I only have a few items...")

I remember the firemen standing in the middle of my neighborhood intersections with boots in their hands, and it didn't seem to matter what bills I had to pay, or how I was going to selectively donate to charities and causes (or what would benefit my year-end tax return the most) because I would just take whatever bills were in my wallet, open my car window driving by, and put it in the boot.

More than money though, it's the opening and connecting to complete strangers I remember the most.  Because, let's face it, we encounter complete strangers along with acquaintances more each day then we do those we are in deep, loving relationships with.  And also, let's face it, nothing brings strangers and acquaintances together more than disaster and tragedy.

We aren't born with compassion but we are all born with the potential for compassion.  It's in all of us.  That's what the bad-guys always forget, and it's why their evil doings never succeed in crushing and keeping down their victims, but rather do quite the opposite and bring us up...connecting and opening with ourselves and our hearts.

So, today, the 13th year after September 11, 2001, when I was, like so many, in my office (an investment firm at that) and watching in unbelievable horror the sorrowful images as they appeared on our CEO's television, I pledge to be my best self.  I will be my best, brightest, most open, spirited, generous, kind, loving, forgiving and compassionate self I can be this day.  I will try to be this person every day.  I will remember.

Drawing by my mother, Bettiann Clark.