Dear America

I’m going to talk about the country I live in today. No, I’m not calling for you to kneel before the national anthem or saying that you’re a disgrace if you do. We’ve had plenty of discussion about that. What I want to talk about is just an observation that worries me about my friends and neighbors.

What drives us to do the things we do as Americans? Some might say religion, love, money, or maybe even just that we have to go through the motions of life. That isn’t what I see. I see Americans who are angry. They kneel for the national anthem out of anger over an issue, get angry at people who do this, align themselves with two crooked and quite possibly moronic candidates in Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton simply out of outrage against the other side, blame the president or past presidents for troubles, and maybe worst of all, the news we tune in for, social or traditional, is only filled with stories built to outrage. Why is this you might ask? Some would blame news stations. After all, they’re the ones writing the stories. It isn’t that simple, though. You see, writers only write what they know will sell, or at least successful ones do. They write a negative piece because that’s what the majority of people will buy. Why do we have two political candidates that are embarrassing to what is a great nation? It’s simple. Other people were running against them to gain a chance at running in the primary. The majority of Americans chose two candidates who represent anger, outrage, and secrets, though. We chose drama over temperament and reason. We also choose to spend our time kneeling in front of a flag or doing nothing but talking about the ones who do. Aren’t there alternatives to making a difference in the world that actually accomplish something? Those who are disgusted with the way that America treats some minorities could easily mentor someone who isn’t as fortunate as them, contribute to a campaign that supports a politician who could bring about change for minorities, start community programs between police and the citizens of a city, or best of all, become a police officer and see what it’s like from the inside, while doing your best to change what is wrong. For those who talk about the disrespect it shows against our soldiers when someone kneels before our flag, there are ways for you to show respect. There are wounded warrior programs, veterans who simply need to know they’re appreciated in a world that only prints stories that make it seem like they aren’t, and plenty of families who have lost an important person you could help financially or by simply filling a hole through mentorship to young children who may not get it otherwise.

You see, America, I’m still proud of you because I believe you’re good at heart. You still defend the weak, and you’re still one of the best places, if not the best, place to live in the world. You’re filled with caring and intelligent people who have their hearts in the right place. I see you falling, though. I see you giving in to negative news, crooked politicians, and an overall sense of doom. There is hope, though. Take the blinders off and see that it’s not so bad. See that racism isn’t at an all time high. While it is, and probably always will be a problem, we are more together as a country today than we were twenty years ago. We are financially able as a people. Yes, there are still poor people who need help, but we are one of the richest nations in the world. Don’t listen to the media or politicians about how many trillions of dollars we owe. There’s one part they leave out of their doom and gloom story. We might be almost twenty trillion dollars in debt, but we’re also owed a lot of money from other countries. As an example, if I owe Bob $2,000, it’s true that I’m in debt, but if at the same time Christy owes me $1,500, then it isn’t as bad as it appeared. You get one side of the report that makes it seem as if we’re a broke, morally vacant, racist country run by only politicians who are out to get us, and it creates a society that is only motivated by anger and fear.

It’s frustrating writing this now, America, because I see the greatness in you. I see the flaws, too, but I don’t think you understand how much the good outweighs the bad. We’re able to sleep safe with enough food tonight. We have the freedom to choose most things about our lives and own property. We have people who love us, and for most of us, the only things we have to argue about are petty debates about different beliefs that only serve to divide us. See how fortunate you are, and let that light guide you into putting your money into entertainment and news that is uplifting. Let it guide your vote to who you think is good, and not who entertains or incites violence in you. Let that light guide you to look at your situation and know that things could be infinitely worse. You’re alive, you’re in one of the greatest places in the world, you have enough opportunities, and you have the choice to choose who runs your great country. Don’t squander it all being angry. We only get 80 years if we’re lucky, so America, see the truth of your situation. You’re surrounded by 90% positive things and people. Don’t fall in love with griping about the 10% that will ultimately lead to our ruin, if you continue to let it.

Fading

Today I want to talk about something that we all fear - fading, fizzling out, getting too old, or whatever else you want to call it. No matter what people do, they’re afraid it will turn into a shadow of what it used to be. It’s why professional athletes walk away earlier and earlier every year. It’s why we stop writing after that project we know we’ll never be able to top. It’s also why we give up on our relationships. When a marriage loses its shine or a friendship begins to slowly fade out, we don’t stick around to watch it burn anymore. We simply walk away hoping to remember the good times and accept the fading of love and relation as a natural part of human interaction. Maybe all of this really is natural. After all, it’s nearly impossible to grow with somebody year after year without losing the spark that brought you together to begin with, and with every athlete or worker, they know when they’re on the way down. It’s better to go out on top, or so they say.

I don’t look at life the way most do. I’m not afraid of fading. If my relationships must burn, then I want to watch them burn all the way to the ground while fighting for the good moments that might still be left, however rare they may be. When my career reaches a peak and I know I can never be what I once was, I want to fade all the way back to where I started and for it to become painfully obvious that no one cares for what I do anymore. I want to be dragged away from the things and people I love kicking and screaming for things to be like they were.

I know what you’re thinking. What about being graceful? It’s what most say we should do. Exit the stage before you become a sad joke, right? It makes sense, but I’ve been a joke many times in my life. I’ve tried sports I wasn’t good at, been too fat or too skinny, and I’ve failed at many things that might have changed my life. As a matter of fact, if I added up the list of successes and failures in my life, I’m confident that my failures would be much longer. It’s those brief moments in life that make them worth it, though. It’s that moment where you accomplish something you didn’t know you could do, someone takes your breath away, or you persevere failure only to find a lesson that leads you to success when you truly see why life is so beautiful. The worst thing about this life isn’t failure I’ve found. It’s thinking back to what you decided not to do. It’s being bold instead of graceful. I’ve found that out the hard way, and that’s why I’m writing this to you. If you’re wondering if you should quit on a passion, a person, or a purpose, then think really hard about this question. What do you fear more - being humbled or spending the rest of your life wondering what could have been? Be the one who left nothing unsaid or undone because when you’re eighty and you find that your passions aren’t an option anymore, you’ll wonder what could’ve been. Could that girl have been the one to love you if you had tried a little longer? Was your big break just around the corner? Should you have been a little more selfish and stayed past your time at work?

We don’t get to go back. We have one direction, and it’s forward. Perhaps nothing matters on Earth. If you believe in God, then that will be a truth for you. The only thing that truly matters is that we are welcomed into His kingdom. If that is so, then what is this life other than a playground where for a short time we get to take chances on things and people that we may never see again? Now is the time, whether you think you lay in the ground forever when you die or there’s an afterlife. We get a chance for one great love here, a few passions, and even fewer purposes. Be really careful about who or what you quit on because there are worse things than watching the best parts of your life fade. Win or lose; hate or love, there will be a time when you wish you could have one more day to take another shot at it because it isn’t the great successes we miss when it’s all over. We miss the process, the great joy and pain of it all; the great love and the great fights that made us who we were. You’ll never get to go back, so play even the bad cards of your life because otherwise what’s the sense in even having those last years, challenges, and loves?