Inspired to refocus

Right now, I'm a bit lost lost and overwhelmed as the Trump administration undermines democracy, rejects the established meaning of the Constitution, and chooses to stoke fear on a daily basis. But this is the time when we all must find a way to reinvigorate our hope, optimism, and faith in what the United States can achieve, and then work for it. While daily events make this extremely difficult, I found inspiration Amanda Gorman’s poem for the Biden/Harris inauguration in 2017—The Hill We Climb. Presciently, she posted on X a link to her poem on the day of Trump’s second inauguration,

The poem begins, “When day comes we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never-ending shade?” which is very fitting in these times. (It has been reported that she stayed up to finish the poem the night of Jan. 6, 2017 when rioters stormed the Capitol.) In answering the question, she observes that the United States is “unfinished” and is “more than a pride we inherit, it’s the past we step into and how we repair it.” There is more to be found in her poem, but it is best to let Ms. Gorman recite it for you (or to read it in full) It is 6 minutes well spent.

In posting X, Ms. Gorman shared, "we honor King’s dream, by daring to dream big, and by, most importantly, daring to dream together. Only then will the loving fantasies of our better nature transform into reality. The work and fight for the dream persists, and what’s more, it is not just a fight, but fate—that perhaps we are as destined for this time as it is destined for us."

So on days when troubling government actions start to paralyze me, I listen again. It's time to rise above the chaos and focus on working to improve the unfinished United States of America, so that we can “step out of the shade aflame and unafraid.”