Hug your child, your spouse, your friend

Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States known as 9/11. The newspapers and TV shows will be full of remembrances, analyses, predictions, and more. It is good that we remember the losses suffered by the victims and their families, and also the valor shown by firefighters and others. But we also need to pull up our socks and move on. Living in fear only gives victory to the terrorists; we can't let them control our lives. That was not the first attack on the United States and it most likely won't be the last. Some may be preventable, but innovative and determined enemies will always come up with novel ways to hurt us. What, then, is most important for us to do?

If we cannot assure their complete protection, then I think the most important thing we can do is to assure those whom we love that we do, in fact, love them. Life and health have no guarantees, and either can be lost in an instant. No one wants to live with feelings left unsaid. Always kiss your spouse goodbye, even if you're only going to the market. It may be the last time you see him/her. Always hug your children and tell them you love them, regardless of their ages. Tell your friend how you feel; don't let either of you pass without your friendship being spoken. It only takes a second, it always is appreciated, and in the final analysis, it's the only thing that really ever counts.

Be safe tomorrow.