New York City - World Trade Center

It's been said that time will heal all wounds, but anyone who has ever grieved knows that isn't true. Despite it being now almost 25 years since the September 11 attacks, there is still a deep sense of sadness that pervades the 9/11 Memorial. Walking through the Memorial you can't help but replay the memories of that day, and actually being there seems to amplify those traumatic memories. It makes the past more visceral, more haunting. But the sounds of the waterfalls, which mark the footprints of the former Twin Towers, help to quiet and dim the noise of the city. The well-manicured grounds are a stark contrast to the pile of debris and rubble that once stood here. Where a cloud of toxic dust once roared through the streets, there are now rebuilt buildings. Life has moved on.



I got a little emotional while I was there, especially after walking by a solitary white rose placed on the parapet that lists all of the victim's names. Every morning, fresh roses are left on the names of the victims who would have been celebrating their birthday that day.





On my first visit to New York City in 2006, we actually stayed at a hotel just a block south of the World Trade Center site. Back then it was just a large hole in the ground, resembling a massive construction site. It is almost shocking (in a good way) to see it now, and how much has changed in the years since.







Towering high above the memorial is the One World Trade Center building, which is the tallest building in both the US and in the Western Hemisphere. It's the seventh-tallest building in the world.



Near the Memorial in Liberty Park you can find The Sphere, which was the world's largest bronze sculpture when it was placed in the plaza between the former Twin Towers in 1972. The Sphere was damaged, but it managed to survive the attacks. It was never repaired, and was placed as a symbol of resilience and survival. A reminder that even with the scars, we can keep on going.