09/11/2026
A Message for Survivors:
There is no doubt that the fallen deserve our admiration, and their loved ones deserve our deepest condolences, but we need to add survivors to . Approximately 15,000 individuals were in the buildings when the planes hit. They survived but carried serious physical and mental scars with them.
Needless to say, we were not the "lucky" ones. “Lucky” would have been stopping the attacks before they happened, not witnessing the death and destruction, and/or not experiencing that life-altering level of fear. For the survivors, recovery was hard, it took years, and many of us had far less support than we deserved. But, we are still here, and many of us are stronger than we would have been if not forced to overcome this tragedy.
Today, and every 9/11, my heart goes out to survivors like myself. When the first plane hit, I was staring out of the top row of windows of the Marriot Hotel (WTC III) between the two towers (pictured above). As a personal trainer between clients, I was actually doing back squats in the fitness facility on that floor. After I helped evacuate our members and guests, I stepped out of the hotel just in time to watch the second plane fly over my head and implode into the building I was standing under.
If you are a survivor like me, always remember, that you are more resilient now. Today, allow yourself to feel whatever emotions come with these harsh memories, be easy yourself, and take pride in what you have overcome. that resilience is real strength! You overcame that day. There are very few obstacles in life that can shake your resolve if overcoming that obstacle is the one you measure all other obstacles against.
I want to start a new trend. If you know a survivor, share this post with them. If you are a survivor let us know where you were, and what you are currently doing (career, hobby, fitness, family, achievements). I think many survivors would be uplifted by seeing their fellow survivors .
Let’s start a new hashtag: #911
Sincerely,
Dr. Brent Brookbush, CEO & Founder
