“Grief is the price we pay for love.” – Queen Elizabeth II in her message to the American people on September 11, 2001
“The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places.” -Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms
21 years ago yesterday morning our world changed in an instant. It was one of the saddest, darkest, most horrific days in history.
For all of us who are old enough to remember, it is a day that is impossible to forget. 2,977 people were killed in the deadliest terrorist attacks in American history.
From Covid, to natural disasters throughout our country and the world, to terrorism at home and abroad, to senseless gun violence in our neighborhoods, we are reminded every day that we live in an uncertain world.
And in the midst of this uncertainty, we witness acts of strength, resilience, and courage.
We teach our law students that often there are no clear answers and they must make decisions with less than certain information. We train them how to be resilient, thoughtful, and creative problem-solvers when there is less than a clear path to safety and success.
There are countless lessons to be learned from this horrific day. One of them is to live in the present.
As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.”
None of us knows what will happen tomorrow.
Put your challenges, frustrations, and setbacks in perspective.
Think about those fighting for their country of Ukraine who would long for the chance to be alive and have such problems.
Get stronger in your broken places.
Live in the moment, value every second, every breath, every relationship, every opportunity to live, learn, love, and give back.
Do I always take my own advice? No. But I’ll keep trying harder. Hope you will too.
My best,
Lee
Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay Committed to Living Justice.
Have a great day. Have a great week.
Believe in C|M|LAW. Please Give Now.
My best,
Lee
Lee Fisher
Dean, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law | Cleveland State University
Joseph C. Hostetler-BakerHostetler Chair in Law
For copies of past messages, please go to this link: Monday Morning Messages.