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Abstract

The tragedy of September 11 has had an unsettling effect on us. Assumptions about our safety and security have been shattered. The impact of this devastating event will affect all of us in many ways. For most of us, the disaster has caused us to reflect about the implications of this event. It has also presented us with a challenge, however unwelcome, to do considerable soul searching and reassess ourselves and our daily lives. Drawing from some of the fundamental learnings of existential philosophy and psychology, this article addresses the issues of (a) time, life, and death; (b) meaning; (c) freedom-choice-responsibility; and (d) aloneness and connection. By reflecting on these issues, we have an opportunity to recreate our lives in a manner that enables us to live with heightened awareness of the value of life, greater sensitivity to others, and renewed passion.

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A Time for Reflection

Abstract

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References