Phung

The skies were clear and blue across the nation on the day that plumes of white and gray smoke rose over lower Manhattan.

Although many people were in our office building on that morning, it seemed quiet and empty. Radios in cubicles conducted a somber commentary about the unfolding horror as a crowd of coworkers huddled around a small television on the countertop. Some individuals sat in isolation, making phone calls in an effort to contact friends and family. Others went home early, picking up children from school so they could be with their families. And still others, with no family members to go home to, stayed in the office building and the comfort of being with familiar faces. Each person reached out in their own way to be together with a family member, a friend, a coworker or the memory of someone.

It is hard to imagine how it must have been for the hundreds of people who had started September 11 in the World Trade Centers as just another day at work. How much had those collective individuals contributed to the lives of the people that they had touched? How much more could they have done in these years that have passed?

The men and women of the New York Police Department and Fire Department epitomized the ultimate self-sacrifice during and after the collapse of the buildings. Their bravery, single minded focus and unrelenting efforts continued past the point of human exhaustion during the search for life in the rubble.

The nameless masses of strangers epitomized the spirit of New York and the soul of humanity. Countless stories of delivery truck drivers that used their vehicles to shuttle people anywhere they wanted to go, families who opened their hearts and their homes to give travelers a place to stay, and heroes who pulled or carried others to safety without ever knowing their names.

Most people have vivid personal memories of what they were doing at the exact moment that this tragedy occurred. Many of us can remember how we held our friends and family a little closer in the days and weeks that followed. There was a greater unspoken appreciation for the life and love that can be taken so unexpectedly. There was a greater understanding of how coworkers and neighbors can be shelter in times of trouble.

As we remember the bravery and the strength of human character that was portrayed by the citizens of New York, we should also remember the closeness shared with those around us. There was no shame or embarrassment in expressing compassion. What a beautiful way to honor the memory of the lives of the innocents lost in the tragedy of September 11, to make a conscientious effort to recognize those people who are an important part of your life. Don't take a chance on regret, take time to express your appreciation today.

http://www.spaceimaging.com/gallery/9-11/

This one-meter resolution satellite image of Manhattan, New York was collected at 11:43 a.m. EDT on Sept. 12, 2001 by Space Imaging's IKONOS satellite. The image shows an area of white and gray-colored dust and smoke at the location where the 1,350-foot towers of the World Trade Center once stood. Since all airplanes were grounded over the U.S. after the attack, IKONOS was the only commercial high-resolution camera that could take an overhead image at the time.

Stories of September 11

http://www.911digitalarchive.org/stories/

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Words of Wisdom

"Take care and enjoy every day, do not worry about the last day." - John Keyser

"A man does what he must, in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles, of dangers and pressures, and that is the basis of all human morality." - John F Kennedy

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardships, support any friend, oppose any foe in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty." - John F. Kennedy

"That a few depressed individuals could have such disregard for the value of life for so many innocents is not terrorism, it is tragedy. We can not take back that which has been lost, but we can honor them by the way that we cherish the lives of those people that we hold dear today." - John F. Mehrmann

About the Author:

John Mehrmann is an authority on emotional intelligence, talent management and organizational development. He is a consultant, coach and trainer with Executive Blueprints Inc., an organization devoted to improving business practices and developing human capital. His materials are available from http://www.InstituteForAdvancedLeadership.com

http://www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com provides resource materials for trainers, sample Case Studies, educational articles and references to local affiliates for consulting and executive coaching.