9/11

It was one of those moments in your life that you say 'where were you when you first heard about...?' Like when Princess Diana died, when John Lennon died, when Michael Jackson died... the pivotal moments that make you realise that no one is invincible. They make you do a double check on your own life - make you see if you can be a better person, see if you can contribute to those less fortunate, see if you can enjoy the special moments just that little bit more, make you appreciate your life more.

So where was I when I first heard about the tragedy? It happened at around 11pm the night before and I didn't hear about it until the radio came on the next morning around 6.30am. I had a seven week old baby, so I was deliriously tired and focused only on the care of my baby and my business. But there was a tone in the radio announcers voice that was eerie. Something bad had happened, something beyond repair. Through the rambling of words like 'plane,' 'America,' 'shock,' 'Tower One,' 'Tower Two,' 'deaths' and 'tragedy' I could only piece together that something equivalent to a 21st century war had broken out on American soil, something we could only imagine in the movies. I turned on the television to make sense of it all visually. I saw the impact of the first plane on the tower and thought of it as an accidental tragedy, but with the view of the second plane flying directly into the second tower, I, as all did, saw it as a deliberate act of terrorism that was the beginning of uncertainty for all westerners, all allies of the United States.

What had I brought my baby into? What kind of world would he live in?

But there was more - the attack on the Pentagon and the plane that was forced into a field in Pennsylvania destined for the United States Capitol. When would it end? It was terrifying not knowing if we would hear of another tragedy after another. It was possibly the most humbling times of my and many others lifetime.

So ten years later, what have we learnt? To accept every day like it could be our last. To enjoy the small moments, to not be dominated by finances but by the people who mean the most to us. To experience life to the fullest. To enjoy nature more. To find what your heart and soul love the most. Maybe 9/11 was a blessing in disguise for most in western society to stop, think and to take life by the horns to find happiness.

So in terms of 9/11 affecting my every day, it is most noticeable when I travel, especially to the United States. Homeland Security makes me strip down to my bare necessities, scanning all my personal items in front of a stream of strangers and law enforcers. For me, I feel it's not an inconvenience, it's my duty to ensure that their country stays safe (as I do when I re-enter Australia). It's what I need to do to enjoy the privilege of traveling.

In terms of how it's affected people as a global entity, there is no doubt that the world's economy has taken an almighty blow from the combination of extensive spending on military to ensure safety and peace within our communities and people choosing 'lifestyle' over financial responsibilities. We value communication more than ever through the means of cell phones, video chatting and the internet to keep those we love closest to us. We have a greater appreciation for the sacrifices the military and their families go through. We take better care for ourselves which is more noticeable with the ever-increasing   influx of those making trips to the doctor, health farms, having regular massages, attending support groups and doing spiritual bodily exercises like yoga and tai-chi to better our wellbeing. Our values have changed, however we do 'want it all' more than ever.

So take some time out this 9/11 and think of those who sacrificed so much to give us the peace and freedom in our lives to 'choose.' As so many people in this world don't have that luxury.