Reflection on a decade...

Following the 10th anniversary of September 11th, 2001, it is hard to put to words exactly how I feel about my impending departure from the United States, my country, that has lost so much in such a short span of time.  Ten years later, it is high time I leave the US and finally get a view from the outside.  Life didn't stop on September 12th, 2001, nor will it stop today.  One horrific act should not leave us in fear of the outside world, life outside our broken security bubble.  We are older, we are wiser, and with any hope, we are stronger.  As I prepare to leave, I am prepared to walk into the unknown, but I refuse to be afraid of the event scarred me on that fall day in 5th grade history class.  We are not perfect, and we may never completely heal from that earth-shattering day, but we can move on and move forward - more aware of human differences and more open to global change.