9/11 was a tragic time in our history but also an amazing example of the human spirit and the capacity for people to care for others. I pray no one ever forgets the contributions of the men and women who made so many sacrifices for people they didn’t even know. The people working inside the buildings guiding others to safety, the first responders running toward the danger of the burning buildings, the search and recovery efforts, and all those who refused to give up showed superhuman strength and compassion.

Twenty three years have passed since that terrible day but it is still fresh in my mind, as I know it is for many. I remember watching the TV as the news anchors realized they were seeing a live feed of the second tower fall instead of a replay of the first tower going down. There was silence on air for a moment as everyone composed themselves. I watched in disbelief as I thought of all the people that would be affected by this attack. I remember frantically trying to get in touch with my parents in North Carolina to let them know I was safe. (My husband and I lived a short train ride from NYC and would visit often. We were not in the city that day but had been a few days before.) The phone lines were not functioning, cell phones or land lines. Outgoing calls were nearly impossible. There were no planes in the sky. Everything was grounded. The silence was unsettling.

My heart was breaking for the families of those that had loved ones in the city and around the towers. As I watched the media coverage over the next few days and mourned for our country, I began to notice something else, the amazing human spirit on display. The first responders, hospitals, clergy, and many others, were “just doing their job”, as they would say, but this was on a level that none of them had experienced before. They worked tirelessly many refusing to stop, standing in the rubble of the towers searching for the sound of anyone they could rescue. The bucket brigades were in full effect as they cleared the rubble bucket by bucket and one bucket at a time. One hundred and ten stories of each building piled on the ground. A seemingly insurmountable task but the rescuers and rescue efforts did not stop.

As the country began to pull together and resolve not to be bullied into submission by these terrible acts, something happened. There was an air of compassion for and from all those around us. The country was united, standing tall in our pride for country but also looking after each other. It is hard to put into words the feeling of knowing we all had each other’s backs. I was proud of our country knowing we were strong enough to rally together and care for each other instead of letting tragedy send us into a downward spiral.

We all still have this capacity to care for one another. We do not need a national tragedy to bring that caring to the forefront again. We are 23 years removed from the tragedy of 9/11 and our sense of community and pulling together as one nation has fallen down, tripped by our own good intentions. We may all have big ideas of what would work best to bring this country back together but what if we start at ground zero? What if we start small like the bucket brigade, clearing one bucket at a time, taking those small steps to clear the way for bigger action. The act of caring doesn’t have to be met with huge fanfare, laud, or praise. Start with a kind smile at the grocery store or simply hold the door for someone. Check in with your neighbors to see how they are doing or have a genuine conversation with someone to let them know you care. It can start by simply volunteering at your local soup kitchen, or taking a meal to a family that is in need. We can show each other we care by the simplest acts of kindness.

Let’s work to bring back the incredible spirit that was exemplified 23 years ago. We can all start small and lead the way to bigger things together. Let’s show we can all have each other’s backs again. I believe in us! I know we can do it!

If you have a moment to leave a comment on ways to show kindness, or mention your own acts of kindness, that would be wonderful. The more ideas we share, the more ways we can show we care.