The Important Lesson of 9/11

It's 10 years later and we're all taking time to remember 9/11. We must never forget how we grieved as a nation, how we were all proud to be Americans and fly the flag, how prayer became a high priority in our lives.

But as you remember 9/11 -- where you were, what you felt -- we must not forget or overlook the most important lesson of that day... WE CANNOT TAKE LIFE FOR GRANTED. You never know which day is your last, so hug your kids (hard and often), hold your spouse's hand "just because," call your mother, reconnect with an old friend. All simple gestures, but always the biggest regrets to the people involved in any tragedy.

Sure, we could obsess about 9/11--the what if's, the could have beens--but nothing will change or improve the situation. See, death is a part of life no one can control, but we can say "I love you" anytime we want.

A few weeks after I got married, my husband and I moved to Washington state. It was the first time I was ever away from home. I had lived at home through college and even though I eventually moved into my own place, I was always just a 10 minute drive away from Mom and Dad. Now I was hundreds of miles away from home and everything familiar.

I didn't know anyone in Washington and so the phone became my lifeline. This was before the day of unlimited calling plans, Skype, mobile chats and cell phones, so our monthly phone bills were pretty hefty. But, my sweet husband knew that a large phone bill was less expensive than flying me home every couple of weeks. That time on the phone became precious and I realized that I never knew when--or if--I would get to talk to Mom and Dad again, so I resolved never again to hang up the phone without saying "I love you" to the special people in my life. That still holds true today even though we're back to living just a few minutes apart. I don't want to take life for granted.

My hope on this 9/11 anniversary is that for every moment we are reminded of all we lost 10 years ago, that we give a hug or an "I love you" to those still here. Let's celebrate the life--although not always perfect--we are so blessed to have. If we celebrate in the face of tragedy, we'll show the world what it means to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.