The Miracle of Pushing Forward After 9/11

Hello valued friends, partners, and colleagues,

Today, as we observe the twenty-fifth anniversary of September 11, 2001, so many emotions come to mind.

Most of us can remember exactly where we were, who we were with, and what we felt when we learned of the unimaginable tragedy unfolding in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

For thousands of families, life would never be the same, as some spouses, parents, children, friends, and colleagues never returned home. For our nation, and especially for New York, there was life before 9/11 and life after it.

The tragedy also transformed travel forever. Airport security changed. Families could no longer accompany their loved ones to the gate. The way we experienced airports and flying would never be quite the same.

Today, twenty-five years later, I found myself flying from Las Vegas to New York with my mother.

I would be lying if I said it did not feel different to board a plane on this particular day. Yet as I looked around at a full flight of passengers, I was reminded of something powerful about humanity:

We are resilient.

We grieve, we remember, and we honor those whose lives were forever changed, but we continue moving forward. We refuse to allow fear to dictate how we live, where we go, or what we pursue.

As we boarded, I held my mother’s hand. Before takeoff, I hugged her, helped her choose a movie, and prayed that God would surround our plane, our pilots, our crew, and every passenger with His angels and bring us safely home.

In that moment, I was reminded that courage does not mean we never feel afraid. Courage means choosing faith even when fear is present.

Moving forward does not mean forgetting. It means carrying the memory of those we lost while continuing to live with purpose, gratitude, compassion, and courage.

Today, we remember every precious life lost, every family forever changed, and every first responder and ordinary person who demonstrated extraordinary bravery.

May we honor them not only through remembrance, but through the way we live. May we care more deeply for one another, treasure every moment, and never take for granted the gift of returning home to the people we love.

Life can change in an instant. Let us never allow fear to keep us from truly living it.

Reflection Question:

Where has fear been asking you to stop, and what step of faith can you take today to keep moving forward?

“Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the decision that fear will not have the final word.”

With love and gratitude,

Luisa