John P. O’Neill….

Thinking of my friend John Patrick O’Neill today. Thinking of how he LIVED instead of how he died! John was a friend and someone who I respected, listened to, learned from, laughed with, drank with, argued with, marveled at and much, much more.

John was also a counter terrorism expert, Special Agent In Charge in the FBI, he assisted in the capture of Ramzi Yousef. When it came to Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden he was an expert too. He investigated the Khobar Towers bombing and the USS Cole bombing as well. John didn’t play politics, which totally pissed off those who based their careers on playing politics! If you asked John a question, you’d better be prepared to hear the answer. That kind of honesty wasn’t  common in the FBI and that’s why he was pushed out in 2001.

I remember getting a call in late August from him telling me was was named head of security at the World Trade Center and inviting me to come see  the place sometime. He took the job on August 23rd, he died there 18 years ago. He was only 49. 49!

He knew who we should be aware of, what we should do to them and what would happen if we didn’t. Unfortunately, he was right. John P. Saved countless lives on 9-11 and God only knows how many he saved before that.

I’m not sad about him, I’m not even mad……..anymore…….

I am so grateful that I knew John P. O’Neill. I am so grateful that he was a “good guy,” because God help us if he was on the other side!

So, in his honor, I ask you to consider how you can make your world a little better each day, just like John made the world around him better. Today realize that just because someone leaves, that doesn’t mean they’re still not with you. Today realize that in the Grand Scheme of things, telling someone you love or care for them might be the single most important thing you’ll ever do! Today realize that life can change in an instant. Today, realize that there are so many people, protecting you, here, across the globe and so many that you’d never expect and will never know. On September 11th, remember them. On every single day for the rest of your life, remember them.

Finally, today realize that TODAY IS A GREAT DAY where you have hope, opportunity and YOU ARE ALIVE! Make the most of it!

Have a great day my friends and somewhere along the line, I’d love it if you could find a minute or two to instead of remembering how people like John died, to remember that they lived, remember their families and friends, remember their spirit and remember that they’re still with us, watching us do our best to make the world a better place.

Peace

     …..Gregg

Waiting can be absolutely frustrating, discouraging and INFURIATING! It doesn’t matter what kind of waiting, waiting at the bus stop, in a long line at the grocery store, waiting for the baby to be born or even waiting for someone who talks slowly to finish their thought. The simple act of waiting drive us nuts! We don’t care why it happens, we just want the waiting to be over and the doing to start!!! I’m with you, I completely understand where you’re coming from on this one. For example, this morning I was at a bus stop and the dark clouds were rolling in, the bus was late and I was getting more anxious and more frustrated by the minute! (More on this a bit later…) When we find ourselves  frustrated or angry because we’re waiting for something or for somebody, take a breath, step back and look around. When we’re doing this, we force ourself to come back into the present. When we’re angry about waiting, we’re basically  attempting to be in the future! THAT CAN’T HAPPEN!  IT’S IMPOSSIBLE! To find our way back to the now, find something, anything to appreciate. Then find another. Then find another and another. (If you’re in the grocery store see and appreciate the smile on a child’s face, the stacks of a new product, the checker at the counter, your breath, the pitch of the beep that happens when something is scanned on your lane and the others in the store, the floor, the ceiling, what’s happening out the window, anything and everything! Find SOMETHING about it to appreciate! If you are having trouble with this, appreciate the fact that you can even appreciate anything!) I call this “Bringing my presence with me.” Generally, there is always something happening around us that we can appreciate. Sometimes though, they are things that we never thought of appreciating, things that are there and happening but we haven’t noticed and appreciated. WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW! So let’s refresh a bit and go back to my earlier story… I was at a bus stop this morning. The dark clouds were rolling in and the bus was late and I was getting anxious and frustrated. I took a step back from that anxiety and frustration and saw the big tree standing right next to the bus stop. I saw how the evergreens were hanging from their branches and noticed how many different colors of green there were right there in front of me. It was fascinating! I just kept noticing things, the needles, a bird that landed on a branch and before I knew it, the bus was there. I almost didn’t want to leave. I realized that I had brought my presence along with me. (I kept it to myself because I didn’t want to have to pay another fare on the bus!) I also realized I was smiling. What a great turnaround! Give bringing your presence with you a shot! See if it helps you not only […]