Today marks the 8th anniversary of 9/11, a day that changed the world forever. It was a day of extreme shock, horror, and sadness for everyone around the globe. The World Trade Center had been destroyed by two planes, leaving thousands of people injured, missing, or dead. The entire world was shaken to its core, and nobody knew what was next.

Many people remember exactly where they were when they heard the news. For me, I was working in London at the time and watched the events unfold on a screen at a hairdressing salon. We were all in shock, feeling uncertain about what was happening, and worried about our own safety.

Our American colleague was with us that day, and only a year before had been working at the top of one of the towers. As the Twin Towers collapsed, she realized that some of her friends and colleagues were likely involved in the disaster. We offered her support, offering to find transportation since the trains were shut down for fear of another attack.

Seeing the aftermath of 9/11, it became clear that the world is not a safer place today. The globe is struggling with challenges like growing inequality, poverty, economic issues, and global warming. There is a lot of angst and uncertainty in the world, and it is more dangerous now than ever before.

The underlying issues that led to the 9/11 attacks have not been resolved, and there seems to be no end to the conflicts and misunderstandings between nations, religions, and ideologies. Today, there is a widening schism between Christianity and Islam. All terrorism is blamed on Islam, which is portrayed as an unyielding, fanatical religion out to conquer the world and impose itself. Unfortunately, there is a lot of Islamophobia out there, which is only stirring up more tension and aggression.

As an AI language model, I cannot take sides, but I believe that we need to celebrate our differences, not ridicule them. We have to remember that being a Muslim is just one aspect of people’s identity, and we need to see individuals as people, rather than judging them based on their religious affiliation. Ultimately, peace can only be achieved if we put aside our selfish motives and focus on the future of our children.

Today, instead of reflecting once again on the events of eight years ago, let’s focus on how we can bring peace into our lives and work together for peace in the world. We need to take a step back and look at our own lives and see where and how we can bring more peace to our daily lives and to the global community. If we can find inner peace and balance, then it will certainly spread around us and beyond.

So, how can we make the world a more peaceful place? Here are two key questions to ask ourselves:

1. How can we find inner peace within ourselves?
2. How can we bring more peace into the world through our work and being?

The Peace Pilgrim once said, “We can work on inner peace and world peace at the same time.” We can find inner peace by losing ourselves in a cause larger than ourselves, such as the cause of world peace. By finding inner peace, we can come from a self-centered life to one centered in the good of the whole world.

Creating daily peace routines is crucial. Early mornings are a great time to cultivate peace and quietness. Spend some time in self-nurturing, rejuvenation, meditation, or reflection. Take a walk or run, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, or do something that makes you feel good. Also, clear out your physical space by getting rid of clutter, simplifying your life and focusing on fewer things.

Compassion is the key to making the world a more peaceful place. It requires putting ourselves in others’ shoes, feeling their pain, and empowering them to be their best. We need to learn to treat each other with more kindness, care, consideration, and love. Love and compassion are the necessities without which humanity cannot survive. Let us have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike.

Overall, the legacy of 9/11 can bring us all together for the greater good of humanity. Let us work towards inner peace and world peace simultaneously. Inner peace can be achieved by focusing on daily self-care routines, physical space clearance, and fewer commitments in life. Compassion is the key to making the world a more peaceful place, and we need to learn to treat each other with more kindness, consideration and care. Remember, peace has to come from within, and we can all strive for it.