January 15, 2009. 13 years ago.

The day that U.S. Airways flight 1549 landed deftly in New York’s Hudson River, at the hands of Captain “Sully” Sullenberger after the passenger jet suffered massive damage after hitting a flock of birds.

The day that all 155 crew members and passengers on board survived—and lived to tell about it.

The miracle of that day continues to stick with me, as do all of the decisions that led to a jet landing safely in the Hudson: the big picture decisions AND the split-second decisions that all needed to fall just in line to deliver such an outcome.

Many people who were on that plane have talked in recent years about what that experience did to them, and for them. What they were finally able to see, and right-size, and change in their lives when they were given a “Take 2”.

It is so easy to go through each day, just thinking about what’s on the list of to-do’s, jumping from one meeting to the next, and putting one foot in front of the other for the good of the order. But if you were given a take 2, who would be the first person you’d call? What would be the first thing you’d say to them? What would you never do again?

And why aren’t you doing those things today?

Someone very wise said to me recently, “we won’t be remembered for the actions we didn’t take.” So, if this was the first day of your “Take 2”, what would you do?

This is the third article in a year-long series called Finding the Words. Many thanks to Brian Fox for elevating one of many Flight 1549 stories to me, and for reminding me daily of what really matters. If you’d like to receive more doses of communication insights direct to your inbox, we hope you’ll subscribe.