Image of the upcoming new World Trade Center. Photo from NY Daily News.
I sat at my computer this morning toying with an inner struggle. Do I continue this crisp (almost) fall Wednesday with my usual upbeat tone, sharing a yummy new recipe to add to your collection? Or do I risk causing readers to feel a touch of sadness as we take a break from our usual routine to honor those lost on this day, as well as the soldiers, sailors and marines who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom?
In my heart, I knew the right thing to do. After all, this isn’t our first time dealing with tragedy together. Unfortunately grievance is a part of life. It’s about sometimes feeling the confusion of both joy and sadness all at the same time. It’s about not understanding why bad things happen to good people. It’s about focusing on the positive, while acknowledging reality. It’s about being true to ourselves, recognizing that not every second of every moment will always be what we hoped it would, but that we can make the most out of what we do have. In fact, the difficult days make the wonderful ones seem that much better.
Let it be a lesson to us all to choose our battles, take a deep breath and prioritize our frustrations when times feel tough. Look around at the loved ones who are here, and let them know how much they mean to us. Be thankful for the opportunity to be together.
We can utilize these events as a way of expressing gratitude for our own existence, something we often take for granted. With the new towers preparing to greet the world in two months, we remember that while we can never replace those who have left this earth, we can honor them. We can stand strong as individuals and as a community to show respect for the mark they’ve imprinted on our hearts. Whether through a skyscraper or simply through memories. For memories will never, ever be taken away.
Here is what I posted last year and would like to express again:
Every day is not a cause for celebration. Some days we need to sit quietly, reflect and feel emotions, even if they’re not always joyous. Today is one of those days. A day where each of us can flashback to the moment where we heard the horrific happenings, and the panic-stricken feelings that sunk in.
It’s not a time for my funny stories, silly puns or personal anecdotes. Not appropriate for great recipes or stellar restaurant reviews. It’s a time to be real and face the impact of this day, these hours, a time when our lives were changed for good.
May whatever meals you eat today, be spent with family and friends. Sit around the table and surround yourself with those who are most important to you. Together, find ways to reach inner peace and contentment. Be grateful for loved ones in your life and realize the magnitude of their presence.
Utmost respect to those who have worked tirelessly to put the pieces back together to make us whole again, and to those who continue to protect this great country of ours on a daily basis.
My heart goes out to everyone who was effected by today’s events. In one way or another, we all were.
That’s SO Jenn will return tomorrow. For tomorrow is a new day.
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