Happy Friday! Hope that you all had a great week or as good a week as one can have with all the madness in the world right now.
Just as COVID-19 is happening to all of us (pretty much the world, actually), 9/11 happened to all Americans. Whether in New York, Pennsylvania, D.C., or anywhere else in the country, our sense of security was monumentally shaken that day. I don\’t know about you but I feel a similar sense in the wake of this virus. There\’s an uncertainty reminiscent of 9/11 with an \”attack\” of this magnitude. Especially with the massive loss of life.
Today, let us remember all those heroes who gave their lives that day or in the days, months, and years following. Let us also remember their families and friends who lost their loved ones all too soon. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Nineteen years likely helped the sting of grief dull a bit but the gravity of the day will be felt like any other year.
We should also remember what it means to be Americans: We are a country whose strength lies in our diverse cultures, races, religions, and creeds. We work best when we work together. The months following September 11, 2001, illustrated the best that America has to offer from our generation. In the early days of the COVID-19 epidemic, it seemed that we might actually get there, again. Instead, the year 2020 has proven to be incredibly divisive.
Instead of fighting over politics, religion, race relations, or anything else our stressed minds to fight about, can we take this day to remember that we\’re actually all the same right now? We\’re all in this together just like we were 19 years ago. From now on we need to treat EVERYONE with grace, kindness, and respect. Let\’s be the people who deserve the freedom that we enjoy at the hefty price of our heroes.
1) If you haven\’t had the privilege of viewing the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, there are several virtual tours to see online. It\’s a gorgeous property and very thoughtfully designed so that we never forget exactly what happened in 2001.
2) Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church has been presenting a special series for the times that we live in called \”A Faith That Works When Life Doesn\’t.\” I\’ve watched every week now and highly recommend it if you\’re struggling with how to function in this new reality. All of Pastor Rick\’s sermons have been valuable in the sense that there is a practical application for what he says.
3) Scientists have found that where you live in the US could have an effect on your personality. People from mountainous regions, for example, tend to score lower in agreeableness while still being open to new experiences. Can I say that this explains a lot about where I live? Haha! If you\’d like to see where you fall in the \”Big Five\” realm of personality traits, you can take the test here.
4) Checkout a breathtaking view of The Milky Way over St Michaels Mount. That particular photo is going to make the rounds as my desktop wallpaper. Although, there is a strong possibility that I\’ll just want to stare at it and forget to do any work for an hour or so.
5) The founder of Jelly Belly Candy Company apparently sees himself as a real-life Willy Wonka. A sweet treasure hunt could land some lucky fans with treats all the way up to their own candy factory (not actually a Jelly Belly factory but who cares?). Thanks for adding some much-needed whimsy to 2020, Jelly Belly guy!
Okay, that\’s all for now. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and don\’t forget to be kind to your fellow, stressed human beings!
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