Eleven Ways To Remember 9-11: Day Seven A Moment of Silence

As we begin another hectic work week we ask everyone to take a moment of silence for yourself to think about the pending anniversary of September 11.

Our world is filled with noise. Notifications of email, phone calls, text messages, and other alarms keep us constantly responding to the next beep.

Silence has its value too. First it gives our ears a much needed respite from the constant flow of information and alerts. Silence has also been shown to offer significant health advantages that boost  a person’s well-being. Silence has multiple positive physiologic benefits. They include:

• Lower blood pressure, which can help prevent heart attack.
• Boost the body’s immune system.
• Benefit brain chemistry by growing new cells. A 2013 study found that two hours of silence could create new cells in the hippocampus region, a brain area linked to learning, remembering, and emotions.
• Decrease stress by lowering blood cortisol levels and adrenaline. Furthermore, according to a 2006 study in Heart, two minutes of silence relieves tension in the body and brain and is more relaxing than listening to music. This was attributed to changes in blood pressure and blood circulation in the brain.
• Promote good hormone regulation and the interaction of bodily hormone-relate systems.
• Prevent plaque formation in arteries.

A moment of silence is both good for your health wise, but an opportunity to consider the challenges ahead.

In a few days many responders will be reliving the post traumatic stress of September 11. They will remember heroes like Mychal Judge. They will think about the next event they are asked to respond to in their career.

A moment of silence can be a powerful tool to strengthen all of us for the next challenge ahead.

Eleven Ways To Remember 9-11: Take A Moment of Silence

We should never forget 9-11, but we should also never forget we can make a major difference in someone else’s life donating blood today while remembering yesterday.

Day One: Learn CPR 

Day Two: Volunteer

Day Three: Less Partisanship

Day Four: Donate Blood

Day Five: Attend A Religious Event

Day Six: Visit Your Local Police Precinct