In his book, Man's Search for Meaning, Victor Frankl says:  "...everything can be taken from a man but one thing:  the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." Since the event of 9/11, this belief has not been any more evident as it has been in the aftermath of hurricane Katrinna, and now, Rita.

The mere devastation of human life and human resources in the wake of these two hurricanes is unfathamable to most people. The global call to action has been extraordinary and shows the heart of humankind, "when one of us hurts, we all hurt." I have been profoundly struck by the outpouring of love, support, and unbelievable response to the people in Louisiana and Mississippi from people across the world.

The events have caused many, if not most of us, to pause and reflect on our own mortality and the choices we make each day. Questions surrounding how we view life, our spirituality, our relationships, our jobs, our future seem to pale against the backdrop of the lives severly affected by Katrinna and Rita. Yet we cannot ignore the lessons we are learning each day by the resiliency of so many people who are bravely overcoming the challenges they are facing as they rebuild their lives. It is the very thing Frankl is speaking about - it is our human freedom to choose our attitude in any given set of circumstances.

As each of us sets our goals into the future, we might do well to reflect on our own sense of resiliency and find within ourselves the freedom to choose our attitude toward life's challenges rather than react to them. It might be a time for us to take pause and consider the choices we are making in our individual and collective lives within our families, our work place, and our community. We might ask ourselves: Am I constantly complaining about things that are inconsequential? Do I find solace and value in what I have that I might enjoy the abundance in my life? Do I live my life with purpose and intention? Or do I go through life reacting? Do I value my family members, friends, and associates? Or do I criticize them for their ideosyncrasies? Do I take responsibility for my personal choices and accept the consequences of those choices?

Stated in my opening remarks, I write the Fall is a time of letting go, a time for reflection and contemplation, and preparation for new beginnings, new growth, and new experiences. For me, it is also about choices; it is about renewal; it is about resiliency of the human spirit to find solace in the abundance given to each of us even in the face of tragedy.