"Triviality"

by John H.
2001.10.01

In the wake of the great tragedy our nation suffered, I’ve noticed a few things.  I, as most Americans, was shell shocked by the whole thing. And the CNNs and FoxNews of the world shoved it down our throats for days and days. As well they should have.

Those pictures are forever burned in our minds. But as the drama was unfolding and the in days the followed, I shut my mouth and just listened to things around me.  I heard everybody (including myself) trivializing their own lives. Comparing their day-to-day lives to the great loss of life, and feeling that their function is society was meaningless. Their greatest fears were suddenly not all that scary.  And for a brief moment, everyone had a little perspective.

The perspective part I liked. It made the everyday trials of daily life, not so important.  Everyone’s minds united on the same topic. It’s an eerie feeling to look at a total stranger, look in their eyes and know exactly where their mind is wandering.

With all that said, I didn’t like the trivializing of our everyday lives.  I realize that the majority of the population wasn’t directly involved in rescuing or helping those poor souls in the World Trade Center towers. And everybody wanted to do their share, donate money, donate blood, donate food... whatever they could to help out, All the while, sitting at their desks at work wondering why they are there and what it all means.

Despite popular opinion, our lives are significant in the aftermath of such drama.  Each and every one of us do things to better this world of ours. And without you and I, this country would cease to function.  We are not just cattle herded to the trough when the dinner bell rings.  We all have minds capable of thinking and reasoning.

What’s important here is NOT to lose the perspective of what this tragedy has taught us.  The lessons learned are many. The most important, however, is that all of us are capable of great things. We can do whatever we put our minds to.  And when motivated properly, great things are always possible. The problem is that we get lazy, get comfortable and are always waiting until tomorrow or next week or next year. Well, we should have learned that tomorrow may never come. We all know the pop culture buzz-phrase for this, Carpe Diem - "Seize the Day".

All of you out there, could be destined for greatness. It’s inside all of us.  Just take this moment and take a deep breath. Go on with your lives knowing that one day you may wake up and tomorrow will be your 80th birthday and all the dreams you once had about greatness will never come to fruition.

Take care my friends.