Last Monday — Labor Day — meant a short workweek in the United States.
Most Americans spent Monday celebrating with family and friends, Tuesday moaning about the loss of summer and then the rest of the week trying to remember all of their responsibilities in before the Friday 5:00pm whistle blew.
Yesterday we remembered … No, that isn’t right. Yesterday we in the United States commemorated the September 11th attacks on the United States.
Commemorate means to both remember and show respect for.
Many Americans once again joined with family and friends, this time to recall one of the greatest losses the country has suffered. Many also took time to show respect for those who responded to the tragedy on that day and in so many ways over the last 15 years. For these heroes, there is no 5:00pm whistle which ends responsibilities.
Gerontology and fitness specialist Dianne McCaughey, PhD, writes of a Harvard study in which older adults shared what they believed valuable to pass on to the next generation. These “rules of living well” included:
- Be happy into old age
- Be confident
- Search for meaning
- Live life because it is worth living
A “search for meaning” requires reflection. Reflective wisdom is yet another advantage that older adults have over their youngers. Reflective wisdom cannot be learned in books; it comes with age, experience. Even (especially?) tragic experiences like those of September 11th.
I hope you’ll forgive me for putting our usual recap of top mature marketing links off for another week.
It seems I’m still reflecting, remembering … commemorating …
A JEWISH PRAYER:
IN THE RISING of the sun, and in its going down, we remember them.
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them.
In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them.
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer, we remember them.
In the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn, we remember them.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends, we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength, we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart, we remember them.
When we have joys we yearn to share, we remember them.
So long as they live, we, too, shall live, for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.