A Note To My 16 Year Old Self

At 9:10am the 2nd horrific part of the most defining moment of your generation has just occurred 6 minutes ago. You know no one directly, but you'll cry. Your world will see big changes, past generations will have no advice for, and future generations will never know an America without. 

Your family will fly flags and in a year or two when you side with a couple of outspoken country singers, some of them will condemn you. You'll move on, just like everyone, 9/11 will become a cultural reference point and vernacular. At least 10 years on, you'll be ok, working towards amazing things like planning to make that city home because being there felt like home. 

All in all, you will feel a loss with out reason, like so many. However, you will also feel insurmountable hope for not just your own country, but after taking time to learn about their adversities, for those on the other side of the extremism. The ordinary Afghans, Iraqis, Saudis, and so many others simply wishing for peace and realize, they too are fighting and recovering after all these years

There will be uncertainty, yes, but so far you will have the luxury of never feeling directly threatened, and will be secure in the knowledge that thousands of men and women, some familiar faces, some family, are stepping up to protect and serve daily, the country that for all it's political squabbling has managed to be a persistent sentry in the matter of foreign attacks and uphill battle guardians for those wishing for peace.