9/11 Ramblings

Every year on this day, social media is flooded with 9/11 remembrance posts, or people using the opportunity to spout their political opinions. This year, I woke up and immediately remembered what day it was and kind of didn't want to think about it anymore.

When I see all those posts, I feel glad that the world is still remembering those attacks, but I also feel like the majority of those people don't give it a second thought the rest of the year. After 9/11, everyone came together, cried together, supported each other. Now, half the people who post remembrance posts are complete jerks to others (if you reading this are one of those people: I'm not sorry). It makes me angry.

9/11 changed my family's life, and I am sure anyone who had family at the attack sites will say the same. I don't think about it once a year. I think it about it throughout the year. I think about it every time I travel, and pretty much every time I say goodbye to the people I love. It is definitely a source of anxiety for me, because I am constantly thinking about how you never know when you will lose someone. It has made me a more compassionate person and less afraid to say "I love you" to people who I may not have said it to before. So if I seem like a weirdo spouting my love randomly to friends... that's why.

I always say how lucky we are that my uncle went down a few floors for a muffin that day, but is it really luck? I don't think so. Was it fate? I don't know. I have a weird view of spirituality. I am not religious, and I am still trying to figure out what, exactly, I believe. But when I think about 9/11, I can't help but feel like there is something greater than ourselves watching over us. I don't know why bad things happen. I don't know why some people were saved and some were not. Good people died that day. What I do know is that, from looking at my family and some others, I see that this horrible situation did change some people for the better.

Hopefully, even though I think the 9/11 attacks are a sign of evil in our world, and it hardened some people's hearts and made them cynical, it also created some compassionate, motivated people in my generation who will work hard to make the world a better place. That could be something as big as running for president and actually making good changes for the country, or something as small as smiling at one stranger and making him feel like good people exist in the world.

So... yeah. That's what I try to do. I'm not saying you need to dwell on a horrible memory. But how about we all think about the way we supported each other and cared for each other during that time and carry that attitude with us throughout the year? Lose your pride, hug your "enemy." Ya know, all that peace, love, hippie shiz. This isn't meant to be a commentary on war. It is meant to be a commentary on everyday life. YOUR life. We can all make a positive difference in the world.