I always thought September 11th marked a transition for our national identity. As sad as the loss of life was that day, as horrific as the carnage was to our own sense of security, to me, the one bright spot about that moment in time was that it seemed to mark the point where we, as a nation, finally came to an understanding that while the United States is an amazing country, and most of us are forever grateful to have had the privilege (and flat out luck) of being born here, we are but one citizen in a patchwork quilt of religions, colors, and cultures who also call our planet (not just our country) home.

Having recently reconnected with family from across the globe, I am reminded that while we grew up with disparate and unique (to us) experiences – different languages, different priorities, different lives altogether – we have a shared history. Our great grandparents sought to provide a good life for their descendants (and there were a lot of them, those crazy Irish kids) wherever they (we) find ourselves camped out. We are not so different in that respect and I am grateful for the reminder that we are all connected by a Kevin Bacon-esque string of DNA. We would do well to remember that when we choose to discredit, disavow, or just plain dis our fellow planet dwellers.

Waking up this morning after watching President Obama’s speech last night about ISIL, I am again grateful for a leader who is slow to authorize military power, smart enough to build a multi-national coalition when he must use force, and strong (and brave) enough to endure the downright idiotic frothing the warmongers on the right never cease to spew. (John McCain, you shriveled up feckless slug of man, I’m looking at you.)

Today will always be a sad and poignant reminder to those of us who lived through the horror, but I feel deep down in the bones that we are stronger, kinder, and more thoughtful as we move forward as a tenant of our planet.