Remembering September 11th
As another anniversary of September 11th arrives, people everywhere pause to remember that day in vivid detail. I want to ask you: Where were you on September 11, 2001? What did you feel when you first heard the news of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the crash of Flight 93? How did you respond in those first moments?
But maybe an even more important question is: What do we do when the unthinkable happens in our own lives? How do we respond to crisis—whether it’s the loss of health, a job, or a loved one? Do we let it define us, or can we find a way to transform even the most devastating circumstances into something that serves a greater good?
Whenever there is great suffering, I believe we have a responsibility to find meaning and create something positive from it. It’s up to each of us to shift our perspective, deepen our commitment to help one another, and honor those who sacrificed for our freedoms. Can we find gratitude for our lives, even in the hardest times?
I remember that morning vividly. I was in Hawaii, leading a nine-day leadership conference with people from 39 countries. At 3:00 am, my team woke me with the news. Shock hit first, but I had to act quickly. Many in our group had already learned they’d lost family, friends, or even their businesses in the attacks.
With people from every walk of life, every faith, and every perspective, the intensity in the room was overwhelming. Some were angry, some afraid, some in disbelief. My challenge was to bring this diverse group together, to help them move beyond their immediate reactions and support those most affected. We focused on what we could do—comforting those in pain, helping people connect with loved ones, and taking action to help, like donating blood.
It was a day scheduled for emotional mastery, and it became a living lesson in what’s possible when we set aside our differences and come together. I witnessed two men—one who narrowly escaped the attacks, another who initially identified with the attackers—move from confrontation to understanding. Their transformation became the heart of a mini-film we created, showing what can happen when we let go of judgment and seek true connection.
As a tribute to everyone affected by September 11th, I’m sharing this film with you. My hope is that it offers lessons and inspiration for facing conflict and building peace, in your life and in the world.
Over the years, this film has been used in leadership training around the globe, helping people find common ground and create positive change. I hope it serves you as you reflect on this day.
The best way to honor those we lost is to live fully, without fear, and to use our greatest human resources—compassion and the drive to serve—to make a difference.
