Seven years ago our world-view changed, triggering chaos in our living and working experience. But we emerged resilient. As a reporter working for Marketplace Morning Report airing on NPR – 9/11 was a wake-up call. The concept of human capital took on an entire new meaning as I worked by day as a business reporter - and by night volunteering with the children impacted by the tragedy.
The grief of reporting in the days following the terror attacks was almost debilitating, especially because I had lost a number of friends and a dear colleague – a cameraman named Glen Pettit. Fortunately, I was able to immerse myself in the workplace – ground zero on many days. I was also gifted with being able to work with the children of the victims at the Pier 94 triage site.
While the kids and I played and drew pictures, their parents filled out paper work, waited on line for insurance information and quietly brought personal items with DNA evidence to officials in hopes of identifying their loved ones. The weeks that followed were a blur of sorts, but certain images will always stay with me.
The faces of the children who lost a parent
The faces of the rescue workers covered in ash
The faces of the volunteers at ground zero
The faces of the news reporters
The faces of the thousands of people who lined the West Side Highway as emergency crews raced in and out of the remains of the World Trade Center
The faces of family and friends who, by chance, were not working at the twin towers that day
The faces of the nearly departed who missed their plane and instead survived
Many images and lessons emerged from that time. Gratitude, newly found faith, resilience. But to stay on message for WorkLifeMonitor.com here's what comes to mind.
A passionate need to do work that is better aligned with our core values (we don’t know what tomorrow will bring)
The importance of cultivating resilience even when there is no chaos (hardly ever)
The deep heartfelt desire to make a conscious contribution to the world (the bigger picture – “not about me". )
This month at East/West Books in New York City I'm participating in a panel discussion with Matthew Fox, author of The Reinvention of Work. In his book he states, “Work is indeed our way of creating…our deepest contribution to the community lies in that to which we birth.” So what is your life’s work – and are you living your deepest desire in your vocation? Food for thought on this sacred day.
