Humans vs Elephants

I read something last night that said humans have a powerful memory, and I realized just now that it's very true.  Yesterday, September 11th, the feeling of the day in media and in conversation was the same feeling as the year before and the year before that.  I understand, Support our Troops, God Bless those who've lost, Never Forget, it makes sense.  It hasn't even been 10 years, so I'm not judging, but it makes me wonder how long it's going to be until that same atmosphere isn't over the day.  When can we, as humans or as a nation, let it go as something horrible that happened, but that we're recovering?  I think it will be a very, very long time.  There are still days commemorating WWII and before.  With good reason, it's good to remember and be thankful and acknowledge, but why do we have to dwell so much on the past?  Why can't we as humans let these things go, after a certain point?

  If, on February 18th you are suddenly reminded or struck with the thought of things that happened on 9/11/01, then take a moment and feel what you're feeling.  Yesterday wasn't my day to feel what maybe I'm "supposed" to feel about the day.  But that doesn't mean I won't feel like that at some point.
Maybe more people are remembering and feeling what they felt nine years ago today, rather than how they felt the day before.  Yesterday is the official acknowledgment, but maybe today is when people really stop to think about it.  Especially the people who were directly effected.  Who lost someone they loved.  How were they feeling the day after the attack?

We hold grudges, and we put a lot of stock into things that happened a long time ago that aren't affecting us anymore at all.  Elephants have very good memories, but do they celebrate birthdays?  And anniversaries of when they met each other? And that One Time a lion attacked them?  I don't know, but somehow I doubt it.  Maybe we should try and be more like elephants.
Recognize and Realize, but don't weigh yourself down with the burden of Remembering.
Which isn't to say we shouldn't celebrate anniversaries and holidays, or that we shouldn't take a moment to think about That Thing that happened x-amount of years ago on this day; I just think we should relax a little.

xxx
Dee