What do you value today? Chances are this special day in America makes you reflect on all that is important to you. What is it about this date, 9-11?
Today in the Southeast many of us brace for the impact of Hurricane Irma. Most of us have remained glued to the weather updates and forecasts. Due to the wrath of this storm many are coming to terms with potentially losing their valuable possessions [or having lost items].
Thousands of families who have been forced to evacuate their homes were faced with the decision of what to take and what to leave behind. The thought of leaving some items behind meant that it could be gone forever. So, it forced the question of what do you value?
Some of our dear friends were faced with this issue of packing some items and trying to secure important items as they left their home on the beach last week. Their attitude about their “stuff” has been quite impressive to me. As Hurricane Irma changed paths putting their home squarely in the impact zone; the realization of a total loss has become substantially greater. Throughout this time of uncertainty they have remained resolute in that their family is safe and that most all “things” could be replaced. Clearly their values are placed in people and not things.
September 11, 2001 and the days following the terror of 911 also made people take pause and reflect on their own values. In the wake of 9-11 I have friends who changed jobs to move closer to family. Many people reached out to loved ones with calls or letters to mend broken relationships. Realizing the fragile nature of life either changed or reminded us about our values.
9-11-01 and 9-11-17 will likely be remembered for various and different reasons. This date of 9-11 has become even more important as a date of reflection to question our values. Hopefully, these dates may be remembered by you as a date when you realized that stuff is just stuff. Place value in your relationships and care for them more than you care for your physical possessions.
I’ll close with one of my new favorite quotes. It is from Joshua Fields Milburn and Ryan Nicodemus, together they are The Minimalists.
“Use things and love people, the reverse never works.”
Image Credit to Reuters/Lucas Jackson and Drive Media