Living in the New York City Metropolitan Area brings a unique perspective to the yearly observances honoring those who perished in the attacks on 9/11. It’s personal. Our newspaper is still filled with stories of neighbors who lost their loved ones. But this year there are more stories that reflect a spirit of determination to take control and live life to the fullest despite the tragedy.
For example, one woman who lost two sons in the attacks described how she and her family and friends now use 9/11 as a day to get together and celebrate the lives of these men, rather than mourn their loss. This shift in focus has given the family a strong measure of comfort that helps them live into life, rather than folding as victims.
It’s easy to get caught up in major problems and believe we have no control. However, the reality is we always have a choice regarding how we deal with what’s in front of us – even during tragedies. Many times, the best thing we can do under extremely tough circumstances is shift our perspectives:
- Who is still with us?
- What resources do we still have?
- What can we still do to move toward what we need and want?
These questions, and others like them, can go a long way in opening our minds to new ideas and behaviors that can lead us to a better place.
Resilience isn’t just about recovery. It’s also about making the best of the tough times. Just as the family above had to come to terms with who and what they still have in order to get to the most out of life, we can all benefit from their example in shifting perspective when faced with any type of adversity.