11 Story

Sharing and Honoring My 9/11 Story After 9/11 I took the subway down to lower Manhattan because it was something I felt I needed to do. Like many people, Id been struggling with how to make sense of it all, how to explain it to my young children who were surrounded by reminders of that day, and how to come to terms with my own mortality. I felt like I needed to document the day in some way. Id done quite a bit of journaling in the past, but somehow writing a journal entry seemed too real and almost too accepting of the situation. So I decided to put my thoughts into prose and the poem below was the result.Saw the void In the city sky Didnt know how to feel Didnt know how to cryMissing towers Between Church and Vesey Disoriented Streets were messyReading prayers And words of hope Missing persons Hard to copePolicemens jerseys Childrens art Emotions pouring From the heartTattered buildings With windows taped Like damaged souls Or young girls rapedShould only face Such heartache With someone special Who can makeA positiv e comment A comforting word To remind me How absurdTo take your anger Out on others Innocent spouses Children and mothersIm so glad I put my thoughts down on paper that day. Not because I think this is the worlds greatest poem, but simply because it captured the story and the emotions of the experience. And it froze the memory in  time in a way that it can be shared and honored.A lot of what I do as a career coach revolves around teaching people how to tell their story in a meaningful way that can be shared and honored. People with great career stories are a lot like poets. Great career stories are concise and easy to remember. But their brevity doesnt lessen the impact of their message; instead it intensifies it.If you are trying to come to terms with the story of your career as you embark on a job search, consider writing about it first. Chronicle your successes as well as your obstacles. Write in paragraphs, bullet points, or even in prose. But get your thoughts down while you a re in the moment. Doing so will help you create a more authentic and compelling message when you are ready to share your story with others.