 Newsletter Volume 26 - September 11, 2002
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Now it’s one year later. In the wake of the terrible terrorist attacks of September 11, millions of Americans resolved to make significant changes in their lives. “Let's not get back to normal. Let's do better,” the Words Can Heal response to rebuilding America after the terror attacks, captured the prevalent mood. Today is an appropriate time to assess how well we actualized our resolutions into concrete change.
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Quote of the Week:
“The stern hand of fate has scourged us to an elevation where we can see the great everlasting things which matter for a nation - the great peaks we had forgotten, of Honour, Duty, Patriotism. . . “
- David Lloyd George, Prime Minister of England, shortly after
the start of the First World War.
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Your Last Day?
Of the thousands of people who were killed in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, how many of them, when they left home that morning, expected never to see their loved ones again? How many of them left their homes with a heartfelt, loving farewell, rather than a perfunctory good-bye? How many of them, the last time they talked on the phone with a parent or sibling, communicated how much gratitude they felt for all they had received from the relationship? How many of them intended to apologize to someone they had hurt, but figured they could wait till tomorrow?
The horror of the attack on America was not only in the thousands of tragic deaths, but also in the unexpected suddenness of the attack. When soldiers are sent off to war, they and their loved ones know that this may be the last opportunity to express their deepest feelings, to make up after petty arguments, to heal lingering grievances. The victims of 9/11 had no such chance.
One lesson of the catastrophe was that life and relationships are too precious to take them for granted. Many Americans translated their new sense of insecurity and vulnerability into making sure that if today were their last day. . .
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Use
Your Words Like Glue
Words are the glue which connects people to each other. A good way to commemorate the tragedy of September 11 is to use words to heal and enhance the relationships in your life. Here are some concrete suggestions:
- Tell your spouse, your children, your parents, and your friends how much you
love them, how much they mean to you, how diminished your life
would be without them. Take time and attention to put your
love into words.
- Don’t wait to apologize to people you’ve hurt (materially, emotionally, etc.).
Pick up the phone today and say, “I’m sorry. I want to restore
our relationship.”
- Remember neglected relatives and friends. Take time to send a card to your
aunt who lives alone, to send an e-mail to the sibling or cousin
you’ve been too busy to keep in touch with, to telephone the old
friend you’ve lost touch with. Would you do it if you knew
that today was your last chance?
- Commit yourself to eliminating gossip, name-calling, and all
forms of verbal violence from your life. Words can destroy
as perniciously as any terror attack. Actualize your commitment
by taking the Words Can Heal pledge, reading the Words Can Heal
Handbook (available from amazon.com),
and taking an active part in the campaign to improve the way America
speaks.
- Do the above in memory of the victims of September 11. May their deaths inspire our lives.
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Visit www.WordsCanHeal.org for more ideas on how to heal with words.
And spread the word! Send this message out today -- together we can make a difference!
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