September 11th is a day that we will never forget.

It started out as any other ordinary day...my husband went to work, I hugged my kids and got them on the school bus. I came inside and turned on the television...I almost couldn't comprehend what I was watching.
If you ask someone what they were doing at that precise moment that our Country fell under attack....everyone will have an answer.
The time seemed to stand still as we all watched those horrific images on our TV screens, and the people that eyewitnessed these events can still hear the sounds and smell the smoke as if it was yesterday.
I can still remember how odd it was not seeing any aircraft in the sky in the days following the attack, and the news coverage was ongoing as the death toll constantly rose.

We were all on those planes and we were all jumping from those burning buildings, we all felt the pain, despair, hatred, frustration, confusion, and uncertainty. We wanted someone to pay for what had been done and the sad fact is, is we are the ones paying daily with our lives. We watch the continued horrific scenes being played out daily... the kidnappings, car bombings, suicide bombers and the slaughtering of our troops seems to never end.

We sadly live in a world where no one can get along. Everyone wants to be right whether that be with religion, politics or who ate the last piece of cake. In the ideal world, we would have respect for each other and their ideas, thoughts etc. We would support and embrace all religions, races and individuality.

Hopefully, our children and our children's children will have a safer world than we live in now. Today, we have thousands of our men and women dying as they try to regain a strong and safe Nation.

In the meantime, find peace and comfort in your family and friends. Give to the poor, ask a homeless man or woman their name. Say hello to your neighbor. Hug your children, tell them you love them. When the grocery store clerk asks if you need assistance give them a polite answer. Say please and thank you and teach your children to do the same. Smile at the person in line next to you at the bank. Hold the door open for the next person. Go to a nursing home and listen to our elders tell stories of their youth. Volunteer at a shelter.

Although we have daily reminders of a world filled with hate, you can make your life and the lives around you better by doing good around you. And yes, it is contagious.
The flip book that you see is a reminder that we need to drastically improve the way we live and the way we treat others. Changing the world for the better begins with yourself...imagine if we all felt that way....

K. Verbonus