Achieved Strategies

What does a better, more focused, more meaningful life look like for you?

Work with a purpose is definitely high on the list. That, however, isn’t at the top. Topping my list is my family and faith. This weekend I decided to honor these core things in my heart as one way to mourn the lost lives and celebrate those who saved lives on 9/11.

Too often it takes major life changes to stop us from pushing the hamster wheel forward faster and faster. I had to step off for a few brief days to reconnect with sources of joy in my life other than my work.

I spent some of the time watching several of the 9/11 specials. A common theme woven throughout every story was service, love, and relationships.

Is that not what a more meaningful life looks like?

I dare say yes it does. And if in our time of need we can unite together to help one another we can do it again. That time is now.

Fortunately we don’t have the catastrophic events of 9/11. We have broken economies. Stalled job markets. Greedy corporations. Disillusioned employees. The list can go on.

At the risk of sounding like an idealistic bleeding heart, we would do well to remember the resilience, bravery, camaraderie that we saw in ourselves on 9/11. We would do well to channel this to forge new paths forward to address wicked problems and work alongside people. Not party lines. Not within corporate hierarchies. Not with special interest groups. Not with stereotypes and labels.

I’m no economist. I’m certainly no politician. I’m a realistic idealist who believes in the surprising power generated from people coming together to serve, to love.

9/11 made us all stop and “take stock of who we are” as people. An unfortunate gift that needs to be opened and put to good use.