Don't ever lose hope
Hello, friends!
It’s been a few days since we’ve talked in this space.
I briefly considered writing about the default deadline the past couple of weeks, but the ups and downs of that were so frequent and extreme as to make one imagine a clown working a yo-yo off the side of the Empire State Building, while balancing a unicycle and wearing 36-inch shoes.
But in a desire to NOT watch our Congressional leaders play a very real game of Russian Roulette on live TV, I hopped on social media this morning. And I found an astounding amount of hatred on there.
Big shock, I know.
But the venom of it was such that I found myself sick of it all. (I’ll paste a link to what I saw in a footnote, since I know the sick curiosity of humans — myself included —knows no bounds. The short of what happened is I came across something trending and followed it the same as you’re about to follow the link to this footnote…)1
Back to the point, I ran from that garbage, briefly considered what’s the point of it all, and hours later found myself in a great book. (Books are where we all should be, don’t you agree?!)
It was here that I got away from the sugar high and found the deep, nourishing food for which my mind hungered.
I’m reading historian Jon Meacham’s latest book and I was blown away by something that I read.
Like, no lie, the below thought, which is literally in the prologue, just really hit me deep. Like a punch to the gut.
Here’s the full quote, which I still just find earth-shattering.
It is a fact of American history that we are not always good, but that goodness is possible. Not universal, not ubiquitous, not inevitable — but possible.
How incredible is that quote?!
And I immediately felt a little better about our country and about my own course in it. I also felt immediately compelled to share it with the amazing group of people on here.
Again, think of the responsibility that we all carry.
Lincoln said America was the world’s last, best hope. And I think even 150 years after he said that, it continues to ring true.
As we help lead the effort to arm Ukraine and rally public opinion to defend Taiwan (I talk about these things a lot in my defense podcast/newsletter, if you’re not signed up for that), we show that goodness is possible.
As we rally behind a competent, accomplished President, who struggles with a stuttering problem, we show that goodness is possible.
As we push back against redistricting efforts and an imbalanced (increasingly illegitimate) Supreme Court, we show that goodness is possible.
Our struggle continues, and our history is littered with times we’ve faltered, but goodness is possible. Don’t ever lose that thought.
Love and peace,
Stan R. Mitchell
P.S. Enjoy what you’re reading but don’t want to subscribe? Send me a small tip on Venmo at Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell). The more tips I get, the more I write. 🤣
P.P.S. If you enjoyed this post, I’ll bet you’d love the motivating and inspiring book below.
CLOSING THOUGHT: Do not despair in these coming days. The light of dawn is emerging, and nothing can stop light (or truth).
If you’re bored — or want to be entertained — check out the livid comments to the below tweet. And the SUPER ironic thing is this guy is actually a Trump supporter! 🤣 You can see his video stating his strong support here; it was recorded eight days ago, so from what I can tell, a legit Trump supporter dared to criticize the person he wants to be president, and he gets absolutely ripped by those on the Right. Also, notice how nice all these people are? Depressing, isn’t it?