Do you know what is the opposite of hate? On the 18th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, that’s what I want to know. The people who planned and orchestrated the death of almost 3,000 innocent people acted from a place of extreme hatred and today I want to make sure I am as far from hate as I can possibly be.

Most would agree love is the opposite of hate. Although love should be what we lead with every day, today I will argue it is especially important. Al-Quaeda set out to make a statement with hate. Maya Angelou poignantly declared, “Hate: it has made a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yet.”

Today we will commemorate the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the worst act of terrorism our nation has ever experienced. Hate doesn’t solve anything—love does. What act of love could we do today that just might override any act of hate? Victor Hugo said, “The great acts of love are done by those who are habitually performing small acts of kindness.” Little is big. Love rules. Especially today.

With Gratitude,
Beth