9/11

Reflecting on 9/11

What better way to honor and remember September 11th than to take a moment to write about it on this day?

I’ve always struggled with processing death and tragedy. Whenever a devastating event happens, my mind races with thoughts about the impact it has on others and how life can change in an instant. When I’ve lost loved ones, it takes me a long time to fully process the grief—I find myself thinking about them constantly.

When my grandmother passed away, I wrote a letter in her memory. When my dad died, I reflected on what he meant to me through writing. When I lost a close friend, I wrote about our friendship and the adventures we shared. The same happened when my uncle passed—I wrote a letter to him and my aunt about the special bond we had. Writing has always been therapeutic for me; it helps me cope and find meaning in loss.

In a past blog, I wrote about the passage of time and mentioned 9/11, the Sandy Hook tragedy, and Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crash. These events, among many others, stand out in my mind as examples of how quickly life can change.

The Impact of 9/11

Every year on September 11th, I find myself flipping through TV channels and stopping on documentaries and specials about that day. I can’t begin to comprehend the pain and loss that so many families endured.

This morning, I woke up feeling a little lazy and started scrolling through TikTok. Then, I came across recordings of final phone messages from that day—calls made by people on the planes and from inside the Twin Towers. They were leaving messages for their loved ones, saying goodbye and expressing how much they loved them.

Listening to their words, I was struck by how strong and composed many of them sounded. I imagine they wanted their final message to be calm and reassuring, not filled with fear. The idea of making a phone call like that is unimaginable—and receiving one would be absolutely devastating.

My Memory of 9/11/2001

Like many people, I remember exactly where I was that day.

I woke up and headed to my mortgage office to start the workday. At the time, I owned a mortgage brokerage, and we usually arrived just after 9 AM. A neighboring business asked if we had heard what had happened, and they opened their meeting room where a TV was on, broadcasting the tragedy.

We stood there in shock, watching the horror unfold. After about an hour, I decided to leave work and go home. I felt completely unsettled and couldn’t focus on anything. Once I got home, I was glued to the TV for days, watching as the world seemed to come to a standstill.

Perspective in the Aftermath

Whenever tragic events happen, they remind me of what truly matters—relationships, forgiveness, and living without regret.

We all deal with stress and bad days, but when you think about a day like 9/11, it puts everything in perspective. Most of us are probably doing okay compared to the suffering that took place that day.

It’s also a reminder that tomorrow is never promised. None of us know how much time we have left. At some point, we will all run out of tomorrows.

After 9/11, there was a sense of unity in America. People seemed to be more patient, understanding, and patriotic. We knew we had to look out for each other, because we had seen firsthand that evil exists and can strike at any moment.

Fast forward 22 years, and the country feels more divided than ever. There are so many issues that seem to drive people apart, and tolerance for differing opinions has dwindled.

The Lives Lost

What stands out most to me when I think about that September morning is how many lives changed in an instant.

For the thousands of people who died that day, September 11, 2001, started like any other normal day.

Office workers in the World Trade Center likely followed their usual morning routines, unaware that they would never leave the building.
Flight attendants and passengers boarded their planes, expecting an ordinary trip.
First responders reported for duty, never imagining that they would run into a disaster zone from which they wouldn’t return.

I often wonder—how did they spend their final hours?

Did they tuck their kids into bed the night before?
Were they too busy preparing for a meeting to say a proper goodbye to their families?
Did they tell their loved ones “I love you” before leaving the house?

These are the things I think about when reflecting on that day—what would I want to do differently if I knew I wasn’t coming home?

For me, I would want to leave the house happy. I’d want my wife and kids to know how much I love them. Because the truth is, we don’t know what tomorrow holds.

Remembering the Heroes

There are countless heartbreaking and heroic stories from 9/11.

First responders who ran toward danger, saving lives without thinking about their own.
Members of the Armed Forces who fought for our country in response to the attacks.
Passengers on the hijacked planes, who fought back against the terrorists, sacrificing their own lives to prevent even more devastation.

So many selfless acts took place that day and in the weeks that followed. Many people sacrificed everything to help others.

Choosing to Be a Better Person Every Day

I still believe that most people are good. When tragedies occur, we see the best of humanity—people coming together to help, support, and comfort one another.

But my hope is that we don’t wait for something terrible to happen before showing that kindness. We should strive to be a positive influence every day, no matter what’s going on in the world.

A Day That Will Never Be Forgotten

For those of us who lived through 9/11, that day will always be etched into history. It was a tragic, heartbreaking moment for America.

Younger generations will learn about it in history books, but those of us who were there felt the weight of that day in real time.

My kids have asked me about 9/11, trying to understand what happened. My hope is that by remembering that day and the days that followed, we can strive to be better to each other.

Think about it—one moment, you could be sitting next to a complete stranger, and the next, you are fighting for survival together.

I doubt anyone boarding those hijacked planes on the morning of September 11, 2001, ever imagined that they would spend their final moments alongside strangers, praying, sharing phones, making calls, and ultimately fighting back.

In those moments, strangers became allies, united in courage.

Making an Impact

People come and go in our lives every day. The best we can do is try to leave a positive impact on everyone we meet—even if it’s only for a brief moment.