Seven years ago today, I was on bed rest after a major car accident two days after my birthday. I remember flipping channels and feeling sorry for myself because I had just wrecked my brand new car two weeks after I purchased it. My title had arrived that same day and the world seemed to be pretty lousy! I remember noticing all the news channels interrupting shows with their "BREAKING NEWS" and then I saw the events unfold... Let me tell you, no matter how I felt before that moment, I knew my life would never be the same. Life was too short.
I distinctly remember my heart thumping so hard against my chest, not sure if the footage I was watching was reality. Then the tears came. I wept until my eyes were so puffy I couldn't see because I wanted so badly to get out of bed and head to NYC to help those people. I was in a neck brace and banged up pretty bad so I could barely even get out of bed to go to the restroom. The helplessness I felt made everything even worse. I don't think I slept for days and my eyes were glued to the news. The world as we knew it had changed. For once, I felt the world coming together, uniting as one.
When I was recovering and was able to leave my home, I felt people bonding and supporting each other through the grief. I don't think I've ever noticed a more cohesive existence and it took one of the most heartbreaking tragedies to help us open our eyes...and our hearts.
I can only long for the same feelings of unity again and with the world in such a state as it is, I look back to this day and know that my life has grown from my experience. Maybe that's why I work so hard, push myself, never stop to breathe. I think my fear is that one day I won't be around and everything I wanted to do was never done. Believe me, I've beat the odds.
I've conquered a horrible health condition, I've survived heartache and pain, and continued to live life to the fullest... So when I sign my books, you'll know why my signature is Live with Purpose, Love with Passion...
I believe with all my heart that if eveyone does just one good deed and allow themselves to open up to love, it goes a long, long way...
THANK YOU to all the men and women serving our country. Without you, we would not have the freedoms that we do today.
What a beautiful tribute. I can still remember where I was on that day, too, and what I was doing when I found out. I was so stunned that at first I believed that the coworker who told me was pulling my leg. I just couldn't figure out why he would joke about something so cruel. But it turned out not to be a joke at all.