Today is 9/11 - a day that holds significance for so many of us, myself included.
I will always remember where I was that morning when the towers fell - how the TVs were wheeled into our classrooms. How parents worried about their children's safety, how children I knew worried about their loved ones who worked in DC and Baltimore and hoped they weren't next. But that's my perspective growing up in Maryland.
Johnathan is a native New Yorker.
His 9/11 story? It looks a bit different than mine.
There are so many nuances to his experience, and quite a few poignant, personal stories from his own family and those of his friends and classmates. I'm always moved by them, by how these stories juxtapose heroism and bravery alongside absolute tragedy. It's something that's hard to imagine if you didn't live it.
But today, I wanted to share just one story with you. One story that is so simple, but so powerful. And I hope its lesson provides you some comfort, in whatever you may be going through at this moment.
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You see, the father of one of Johnathan's closest friends worked at the World Trade Center.
He took the bus and train in to the city every morning. But that morning, on Sept 11th, his day was off to a bad start.
He was late. He missed the bus. He missed the train.
He was angry. Frustrated. Worried about his job, worried about getting there as fast as possible.
But missing that bus saved his life.
Because if he had been on time to work that day - if whatever had made him late hadn't happened - he would have been in that tower.
Almost all of his co-workers died that day.
His life was spared - all because of something that had made him so angry, so frustrated, so worried, just moments before.
And yet, he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
It's so, so sad that so many people were killed that day. The tragedy is so immense, and those losses were unjustified and cruel. Nothing can make that right.
But I think the lesson that I take away from this story is that sometimes - sometimes, a little "bad luck" isn't bad luck at all.
Sometimes, we are exactly where we need to be for the next part of our journey.
Though the reasons are tragic, his friend's father was promoted quite quickly after that day, becoming leadership for the company as they picked up the pieces and moved forward after devastation.
The somber reality is that, had he been on time to work that day, he would have never lived to see his son grow up. That one small bit of fate changed the lives of himself and his family forever. Who knew one missed bus could change everything?
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Sometimes, as parents especially, we're really hard on ourselves. It's easy to feel like any small decision could ruin everything.
But when I'm feeling particularly frustrated, I try to step back, and to remember that even these difficult times could be a gift in some way. That sometimes, even if it doesn't feel like it, we are, in that moment, doing exactly what we need to do to move forward.
Sometimes, being late is the best possible thing that could happen to you. And hey, with kids, being late happens an AWFUL LOT - at least it does over here!
If you're in a hard place right now, I want to let you know that I'm thinking of you (always!), and that I have faith that things will turn out for you in the end. Sometimes we are placed exactly where we need to be, even if that doesn't make sense to us in the moment.
Sometimes, one small decision means everything.
Even if it's just picking up your baby one more time, even though you're so tired, to rock them back to sleep again. The gentle sway as you walk them around- your presence, your voice, your touch, means everything.
We're so glad your journey has brought you here. And we can't wait to see where it takes you next.
Sending you peace and love,
-Alexandra
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