My life events are not unique. Just listen to the passion of the 2008 campaign as people struggle within the greatest country of modern times. Many have lost homes, retirement savings, jobs, and health benefits. They may lose more if their marriages or health do not survive the stress.
I was blessed with a twenty year marriage, successful career, and a beautiful daughter. Then the next 5 years brought divorce, the suicide of my ex-spouse, single parenting, the death of my father, health issues for me and my Mom, job loss, and astronomical private health premiums. And now? I am a small business owner in the midst of an economic recession!
In reality, it is unusual to have a lifetime of challenge compressed into so few years, and it compounds the consequences. Similarly, had the current confluence of issues facing the United States arisen singularly and separated by sufficient time, we may have managed without the avalanche effect of the past few weeks. The combination triggered a loop of fear and uncertainty, destabilizing our economy. It was not a pebble, but a boulder that crashed into the global pond.
Through the lens of my life, I see lessons on a larger scale for us as a nation. Losses that could have overwhelmed in fact awakened me. Had each experience been spread over, say 20 years, I would not have been so compelled to found a company to help people grow through their own transitions. My passion was ignited, and became a catalyst for Springboard™, so named to describe the power of using life’s lowest points as a launching point for creating a new, often better life.
This election will set the course for the next four years. Many worry that our golden days are behind us, but what if this low point initiated a period of innovation and growth? The fact that we are in debt, at war, and in housing and financial market crises may very well be sufficient incentive to park fear and dare to solve problems we have ignored, such as energy innovation, restoring our environment and rehabilitating social programs. We were inspired and emboldened to meet Kennedy’s challenge to land on the moon. Belief is half the battle, so what if we dared to believe? Isn’t that what our founding fathers did?
Let’s make our current crisis a new beginning to fuel collaboration and exceed expectations. A crisis transforms; without challenge to the status quo, there is no compelling reason to risk change, make transcendent leaps or fully challenge beliefs. Our untapped potential includes involving all Americans in caring and contributing to a rebirth. We strayed from the fundamentals that built our economic and world leadership strength. By tapping our full capacity of innovation and ingenuity, we can channel current fear and anxiety into shaping a richer future than we would have otherwise achieved.
It is said that people change when their fear of not changing is greater than their fear of change. In this election, people understand each voice matters, and they are mandating a complete redirection in leadership. Our new President must guide and compel, and it may be years before we declare this “mission fully accomplished”.
I believe we will reflect on this critical point in our nation’s course as a time when we accepted and exceeded the challenge. Unlike the era surrounding our nation’s birth, we have a diverse cultural compilation of human experience in endurance, plus technology and innovation which strengthens our chance for success. Let’s not settle for merely surviving our current crises. My hope is that we mine this opportunity to secure a sound legacy for our children, and in unleashing our true potential, create a future that is uniquely American.
Vote November 4
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