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A nation that remembers

Today you received this newsletter earlier than usual, at 8:46 am EDT. Twenty-four years ago, that exact moment changed our nation forever. Where were you when you first heard the news?

I was asleep. The phone rang right before 6 am—my mother-in-law’s voice was panicked: “Turn on your TV now, something happened at the Trade Center.” My husband and I did as she said, and we watched the news trying to figure out what happened, as the second plane hit is when we realized that it was not an accident…

Years later, while on a family trip to New York, our GPS guided us through the city streets until we heard the rush of water. We followed the sound and suddenly we were standing at the 9/11 Memorial. I leaned over the edge, reading name after name etched into the black stone. Tears filled my eyes. Then I looked down to see the water falling endlessly into what seemed like an abyss. My heart sank. In that moment my soul fully remembered—and honored—the lives lost.

As a nation, we once pulled together. We prayed together. We felt a sense of unity and patriotism... Do you remember?

So, how do we bring that spirit back?

One way is by serving. Each year, September 11th is recognized as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Communities across the country host opportunities to give back. It’s a beautiful way to honor the memory of those we lost—by lifting others.

Here are a few places to find opportunities near you:

• 911 Day Meal Pack Projects

• JustServe: 9/11 National Day of Service

• 911 Day Coalition Partners

Let’s honor the memory by serving others, together. Are you serving today or this weekend? What will you do? I am heading a service project to honor First Responders through this website that is available in every zip code JustServe.org reply to this email and share with me what you did!

✈️ Sensory-Friendly NYC

Do you know Frank Sinatra’s song “New York, New York”? The first time we visited NY we arrived late and quickly learned that the “City that never sleeps” does in fact rest—because it was hard to find food late at night! It also depends on where you stay.

You can always do the typical Broadway shows and Shopping, but here are some of the wonderful places that are both fun and sensory-friendly:

• 🕊 9/11 Memorial & Museum Plaza – A meaningful and reflective place. The waterfalls create a calming sound, and the open plaza provides space to move around at your own pace. https://www.911memorial.org/connect/blog/guide-honoring-911-your-community

• 🛥 Statue of Liberty Boat Ride – Being on the water offers fresh air and wide-open views. You can choose outdoor seating to avoid crowds. https://libertycruise.nyc/

• 🌳 Central Park – A peaceful retreat right in the middle of the city, with wide paths, playgrounds, and open spaces for a sensory break.

Other Sensory-Friendly Favorites:

• 🖼 The Met Cloisters – A quieter museum experience in Upper Manhattan, with medieval gardens and peaceful courtyards.

• 🌸 Brooklyn Botanic Garden – Beautiful gardens with open paths, seasonal flowers, and quiet nooks for rest.

• 🦒 Central Park Zoo (early entry) – Smaller and less overwhelming than the Bronx Zoo, with sensory mornings available on select days.

• 🛶 Rowboat or gondola ride on the Central Park Lake – A calm way to enjoy nature away from the bustle.

• 🚌 Big Bus Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour – Great for seeing landmarks without sensory overload from constant walking or subway crowds.

• 🎶 Lincoln Center Relaxed Performances – Designed for individuals with sensory sensitivities; lights, sound, and audience expectations are adjusted.

• 🚂 Roosevelt Island Tramway – A short, scenic cable-car ride over the East River with amazing city views and less crowding than subways.

✨ Tip: NYC has many “sensory-friendly” or “relaxed” programs at theaters, museums, and zoos—check schedules ahead of time.

🌳 Lessons from the Survivor Tree

Near the 9/11 Memorial stands a single Callery pear tree known as the Survivor Tree. It was found amidst the wreckage—its bark charred, its branches broken, nearly reduced to stumps. And yet, it was still alive.

Rescued and carefully nurtured, the tree grew again. In 2010, it was replanted at the Memorial, where each spring it now blossoms into radiant white flowers. Today, it stands as a living symbol of resilience, renewal, and hope.

As I looked back at photos of this remarkable tree, I was reminded of the lessons it carries—lessons that can inspire all of us, especially families touched by autism:

• 🌱 Bloom where you are planted

• 🔥 Hardship can be a refiner’s fire

• 🌿 Always keep growing

• 🌸 Share your beauty with the world

• 💪 You are strong, resilient, and full of life

Just like the Survivor Tree, we may be scarred, but we are not broken. We can grow new branches. We can blossom again.

✨ This week, find one way to nurture your own growth—or to encourage growth in someone you love. It might be trying something new, offering kindness, or simply pausing to notice how far you’ve already come.

This week reminds me that even in tragedy, we find resilience and hope. May you carry that strength into your family, your travels, and your daily life

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How 433 Investors Unlocked 400X Return Potential

Institutional investors back startups to unlock outsized returns. Regular investors have to wait. But not anymore. Thanks to regulatory updates, some companies are doing things differently.

Take Revolut. In 2016, 433 regular people invested an average of $2,730. Today? They got a 400X buyout offer from the company, as Revolut’s valuation increased 89,900% in the same timeframe.

No wonder 10K+ everyday people are taking the chance on Pacaso.

Founded by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso’s co-ownership tech reshapes the $1.3T vacation home market. They’ve earned $110M+ in gross profit to date, including 41% YoY growth in 2024 alone. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

The same institutional investors behind Uber, Venmo, and eBay backed Pacaso. And you can join them. But not for long. Pacaso’s investment opportunity ends September 18.

Invest While You Still Can

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