A Personal Nine Eleven

Today is the twelfth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. It was an event that rocked our nation and made everyone stop their day-to-day tasks and gather around a television or a radio. It opened up the flood gates of emotions among people not even personally affected by the event. Loss, pain, confusion, fear, vulnerability, anger were easily empathized by most Americans and throughout the world. 

I do not mean to minimize the magnitude of the event, I just noticed how individually we sometimes experience a “nine eleven” event in our lives with out the same grandeur and support. My personal “nine eleven” was the death of my mother when I was eighteen years old. Cancer was the terrorist, it doesn’t care who you are or how much money you’ve got, it attacks and you either perish or are left with a battle scar. The ashes and muck of this invader float around and affect your loved ones.

What was your personal nine eleven? A divorce, a death of a parent, child, spouse, sibling or friend. These catastrophic events can stop your world for a moment but not be noticed by those around you. It’s been over twenty years since I experienced my mother’s death. Yes, I’ve “moved on” but my life is altered by that event. I’d like to take this time on 9/11 to observe a moment of silence for those mourning a loss personally as great as our country did 12 years ago.

 

I’d love to hear your story and pray or send good vibes your way. Please feel free to comment or send me a message with the subject “my nine eleven”.

Love,

Emily

Leave a Comment