–Franklin D. Roosevelt
– First Inaugural Address – March 4, 1933
I am angered by some of what I see in the world and I am angered by what I see in myself for letting it occur. We can do better. Will must do better. We will do better. And with this my hope is we are DOING better. One baby step at a time. RIGHT NOW. Today. As you read this.
With all the beautiful people and experiences that can happen in the world, I think our collective focus and effort as the human race could use a jumpstart. This is part of my contribution to a better world our families, friends, and everyone else. I believe that at the core of some of these things I’ll share is a lack of knowledge and understanding that takes control, creating a world we ignore or run away from due to fear. Fear of the unknown, for of action, fear of results. This fear has been discussed and written on ever since I’ve known how to read, but there is very little discussed at how to overcome and take action against this fears. I like the idea that fear is false evidence appearing real (though I can’t find the source of this quote). I believe in my heart that if we can put all of the actual evidence together, then we have real evidence appearing real. And on real evidence, we can make real decisions. And when we decide what to do based on real evidence, we take real actions. And if we take real actions in our lives and the lives of those around us, we can have funner times hanging around on this big rock floating around our sun.
This is for you. Information for your thoughts, for you to share, for you to inquire about, and for you to act upon. Right now. In a very direct empowering way that you may not have been exposed to before. I want you to “get It.” The “It” I want you to get is knowledge and understanding about the way things seem to work in our education systems, our economies, our legal systems, and our social systems that is so powerful that you can action and movement in your life and mine. I didn’t say the way things do work. Just the way things seem to work. The academics can follow up on the minutiae. At the core of my being I know you’ve been underestimated. “They” have told you that its “us or them” of “you or them.” It’s not. It’s you first, then you and us. That’s really all there is. I want you to be the best you that you can be, so I can be the best I can be, so we can all be a better us and see what we can do to share and enjoy our lives just a little bit more.
When you get “It,” I want you to sit with “It” for a while, and then take whatever action you feel is appropriate in your life and others to be a better person. I know you’ll do the right thing with this information. You’ll know what to do when you get it. You always have and you always will.