Live like It’s 9/11

By Stacy LaMorte

I recently had the amazing opportunity to travel to New York City with my family over Mardi Gras break. We had a wonderful time, and not once did I hear, “I’m bored!” There was so much to do and so much to see.

While we were there, one of the sites on our tour was the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. At first, I was very skeptical about taking our children to see it. (They are ages 14, 12, and 10). However, I figured if it was too much, we would just leave and do something else.

It was beautifully done. One of the major things I took away from it was that all the parents on the tour were talking about where they were and what they were doing on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

Everyone mentioned the shock and dismay, but also how kind people were to one another in the days that followed. Husbands and wives were more patient with each other; parents appreciated their children more; people were kinder and more forgiving in traffic, grocery stores, gas stations and lines everywhere.

We were united as a country.

Take a moment to recall your 9/11 memories. Imagine if you lived with that kind of gratitude and patience with your spouse and children all the time.

I know it seems idealistic, but I am going to try to live each day with that kind of gratitude and kindness, and I will encourage my children to do the same.