It's been 15 years. I was a senior in high school. I was only 17 year's old. It was the greatest tragedy of my lifetime and I saw it unfold on live television. 15 years ago, almost 3,000 people lost their lives in the greatest act of terror this world has ever known.
The other day I was in my high school for work. I walked past the room that I was in when we found out a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Walking past that room brought back a swirl of emotions. I could visualize exactly where I was sitting. I remember the feelings of fear, sadness and worry. It's amazing how you can remember those details so many years later. When I got home from school I cried for hours. I cried because I knew that everything was going to change. My innocence was gone. It was a wake up call to the brutality of the world we live in.
So many people lost their loved ones that day. Whether it was your spouse going about their daily work, your friend on a plane coming out to visit, or your child racing into a burning building trying to save a stranger. We saw the best and worst of humanity that day. A lot of things have happened as a result of 9/11, but I think we can all agree that the heroism of that day was remarkable.
Now I have 2 children of my own and not a day goes by that I am not grateful for living in the USA. We're so removed from the majority of the horrors that millions of people face every day. Sure, we have our problems. But we are incredibly privileged and live relatively comfortable lives. I think about the women in Syria, caring for their babies, who have to worry about whether or not their homes will be blown up at any minute.
So today I want to honor the victims and their families of 9/11, but also the millions of people who are dealing with terrorism on a daily basis. We can be better. We can find a way to love one another again. I will not lose hope.
