9/11 Remembrance

9.11.19

One can hardly wake today and, noticing the calendar, fail to recall exactly where you were on this day 18 years ago. The news stations, the History Channel and even the talk shows are full of stories rehearsing for us all to remember the terrible and agonizing details of 9.11.01.

I find myself unable to watch these stories. It was hard enough the first time – in real-time – to imagine that this horror was happening. Now, nearly two decades later, it is an even more miserable way to spend my day.

I worked that day, 9.11.01, in a nursing home, on the transitional care unit, and I remember distinctly as I completed the evening medication pass, I was turning OFF the news channels and forcing everyone in my care to watch, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”. I had a wing full of people recovering from their own trauma, strokes, orthopedic surgeries, open-heart procedures, and the very last thing they needed as they attempted to fall asleep was to watch their world go up in flames again, and again, and again.

It was a traumatic time. And it lasted for weeks, and months, and even years. The FDNY lost 343 members on 9/11. But the dying didn’t stop there. Just this summer, the 200^th fire fighter succumbed to the poisonous particles and gasses that filled the lungs of first-responders on that dreadful day. He died just as the Senate finally agreed to extend the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund.

It is a hard day for remembering. It is a hard day for moving forward.

I cannot imagine what the day means to you or how it dredges up the past or paints the future for you. I can only speak to the cloud that hangs over the images and sounds I remember from that day and am horribly reminded of again, through television images today.

For myself, I want to remember those who willingly ran toward danger when most of us would run away. I want to honor those who sacrificed in the midst of the tragedy and for the years that followed to rebuild that sacred ground into a monument that reflects once again our freedom, and not our terror. I want to quietly respect the mourning that continues in thousands of families across America for loved ones lost or changed forever by the chaos of that day.

I will remember. I will move on. But not before I bow my head in gratitude that on the day it seemed the world could end, it did not. On the day that war came to our shores, we emerged as a people who still search for peace.

About Paula

I help other caregivers – both professionals and family caregivers – acknowledge their pain and learn to practice the many small skills of self-care that can sustain them through the challenges of wholeheartedly caring for others.

Recent Posts

Woman enjoying the scenery on her road trip

Taking Advantage of a Long, Holiday Weekend. . .

May 30, 2023 Coach Simple Self-Care Strategies

Even as Americans discuss the advantages of the four-day work-week, thanks to Representative Mark Takano, D-Calif., who introduced legislation which, if it passes, would reduce the standard workweek to 32 hours instead of 40, we’re also working more hours than ever.

The Guardian reports that compared with other countries, the American workplace record is not good. “In 2021, American employees worked 184 more hours than Japanese workers, 294 more hours than British workers, and 442 more hours than German workers. Unbelievably, in 2023 there are millions of Americans who work at jobs with no vacation time” (The Guardian).

You’ll Never Walk Alone. . .

May 25, 2023 Coach Simple Self-Care Strategies

Since its first recording, by Frank Sinatra in 1945, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” has been reinterpreted by many musicians, perhaps most recently by Josh Groban in 2015. Its lyrics are formed by a relatively short, 17-line poem, written as a song by Rogers & Hammerstein for musical Carousel.

This song reminds me so much of the nature of my work – certainly, when clients come to me they often feel VERY alone and completely overwhelmed by the caregiver roles they fill. This is true whether they are parents of a special-needs-child or the sole caregiver for a spouse with dementia. That sense of being alone is, in itself, depressing.

Women running past finish line at marathon

Measuring Progress Can Help. . .

May 23, 2023 Coach Simple Self-Care Strategies

I’m working with a Health Coach myself (yes, even coaches need coaches!) who seems to appreciate my need to measure things. I’m one of those people who likes to see measurable improvement – to choose metrics that allow me to demonstrate progress, if not full completion, of a goal.

Sometimes, especially if we’re working on goals that feel particularly difficult, it can be important to at least see movement in the desired direction. Most of us can appreciate the fulfillment of getting to the finish line of a quick sprint, like the 100-yard-dash. But when you’re in a marathon you need benchmarks along the way to remind you that you’re actually doing it, and that the end will come, even if you can’t see it from your current spot on the route. That’s where metrics come in handy!

Through Co-Create 4 Life, you will learn a range of well-being strategies from skillfully implementing self-care to holistic approaches to well-being, rebuilding resilience, and battling burnout. Book a free consultation call today to discuss your options.