Another blog

On Wednesday, I began a new blog. Oh this one continues. There is still so much to say every day! This, as you know is NOT about me, but it is about all of us, and it's about making a difference in this world of ours. I hope you will continue reading here and share your thoughts in the comments section below too. I also hope you will check out the new one, Of Being Kind.


The world can always use more kindness I think. Don't you agree? Well this new blog will be brief daily thoughts about kindness. Some days I might list suggestions of things we can do for each other, and some says I may quote someone else's thoughts. Start you day with a quick look to see what I might have said. Click HERE to check it out right now.

 

I've written here about random acts of kindness on a number of occasions.  Some of what I have said here might be repeated.  We can never talk about kindness too much.  I hope this new blog will inspire folks to be more kind to other people, and I hope readers will join in and leave comments,  I'm sure you all have some great suggestions!

 

When I first began writing this eight years ago, I wrote every day, but for the past few years, I have gone to just Monday through Friday.  With that extra time, it just seemed like things were perfect for me to begin this new one, which will be seven days a week.  Oh and by the way, both blogs are for everyone, so do feel free to share them with your friends!

How do we live up to their example?

The deadliest day in US history - fifteen years ago. Four passenger airplanes, bound for California, were hijacked by 19 terrorists, with two of them crashed into the Word Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the fourth crashed into the ground in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, when the passengers onboard overtook the hijackers. Nearly 3,000 perished with another 6,000 injured.

Each year at all three sites, there have been memorials. Permanent structures have also been erected at those locations, and others, as perpetual memories of that horrible day, fifteen years ago. We have used film, television, music, art, and literature to tell and retell the story of that day: September 11, 2001. Indeed simply saying September 11, immediately brings up thoughts of that hate-filled atrocity.
 

Yesterday at The Pentagon, President Barack Obama told the crowd "Fifteen years may seem like a long time, but for the families who lost a piece of their heart that day, I imagine it can seem like just yesterday." Later in his speech he said "The question before us, as always, is: How do we preserve the legacy of those we lost? How do we live up to their example? And how do we keep their spirit alive in our own hearts?"

Some good questions Mr President. How many of us really remember though? Do you actually recall the moment you first heard about the planes crashing into the World Trade Center? Do you remember how you spent that day and the ones that followed? Do you recall fear or a sense of uneasiness? Of the first responders, do we think of them and all they did that day? Right now, fifteen years later, I would like to not only reflect on what happened, but what it brought about, and I'd like to answer the President's questions. I think particularly of the passengers who fought back and caused the fourth plane to come down in a field. "How do we live up to their example?"

What sayeth you?

So many speeches during this political campaign season. How many are saying things of substance though? Will you be able to quote anyone in a year's time, or even in a month?

A great President long ago spoke these words: "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." Who will forget these words of Abraham Lincoln?

From John F Kennedy: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." He also said "A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on."

From the wonderful Maya Angelou, who always inspired me: "Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." What an incredible woman she was! One of my favorite quotes from her is "My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."

The great inventor Thomas A. Edison said "If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves." Sounds good to me! Let's listen to him and to the many voices that have encouraged us, and let's astound ourselves!