INSPIRED TODAY: Tough Times Never Last (6)

You Can Choose What Your Problem Would Do To You.

Shortly after the twin towers fell on September 11, 2001, the nation began to mourn and Americans began to commemorate with the victims and demonstrate their patriotism. Some flew the American flag from their front porches and car antennas. Others pinned it to their lapels or work it on t-shirts. Sports teams postponed games, celebrities organised benefit concerts and performances. People attended impromptu candle light vigils and participated in moments of silence. They gathered in common places like Chicago’s Daley Plaza, Honolulu’s Waikiki beach and especially New York City’s Union Square Park, to pay tribute to the dead and to share their grief with others. “i don’t know why I’ve been coming here.” one young man told a reporter from New York Times “We all feel differently about what to do in response, but everybody seems to agree that we’ve got to be together no matter what happens. So you got a little bit of hope in togetherness” the man said.

The attack on these buildings by terrorist forces, led the US into another Phase of togetherness. They didn’t only mourn, they stayed together which was of course a positive response. Both American Muslims and Christians, pagans and citizens of other religions stood together to fight against terrorism. It was during that period that the statement “we do not negotiate with terrorists,” became popular.

The reconstruction of the towers began in 2006 and the first phase was completed in 2012 and commissioned in 2014 while the second phase is due for completion in 2017. They could have decided to lay blame on the Muslims, which could have led to an internal religious war, they could have shrunk into their shells in fear, which would have portrayed the country as weak. In fact, despite their position on the receiving end of terror, the world still saw them as the victors. Not once did they portray themselves as victims. They launched a war on world terrorism from a position of strength and finally killed the leader of the terror group Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, in 2011 and since then, they’ve stuck to their creed, “we do not negotiate with terrorist.”

Every problem in life will ask you three questions, which are: What are you going to do about this? What are you going to let this do to you? How are you going to respond to this problem? Why do these questions arise? It is because your response to the problem will determine the effect it will have on you. Whether it will make or mar you, whether it will make you better or bitter, whether it will make you tender or tough. You can decide to turn your pain into profanity or poetry. The ball is always—always –in your court, so it is up to you. You may not have chosen your tough time but you can choose how you will react to it. It all depends on you.