I Will Do Better This Time

A few minutes ago, the 47th President of the United States was sworn in. In case you missed it, it’s the same person as who was president just before the one who departed office earlier in the day.

I realized, leading up to today, that there aren’t many times in life when you get to experience a profound shift in the world order and then get a do-over.

I think this is one of those times.

I’ll admit it: I had a hard time during the term of the 45th President of the United States.

And I’ll admit this also: I didn’t have an easy time during the term of the 46th President of the United States either.

A lot of things happened over the last eight years that I wish didn’t.

I also know that more things that I wish won’t happen, will happen over the next four years.

And it’s safe to say that I’m not looking forward to what national politics — and I’m talking about both parties here — will bring over the next four years.

But I am looking forward to learning more about my country and community.  

What will we do? How will we respond?

I’m also looking forward to learning more about myself.

What will I do? And how will I respond?

In that spirit of learning, I took some time since the election last November to reflect on my attitudes and actions between 2016 and 2020. What matters to me? What did I do that I would do again? And, importantly, what do I wish I had done differently?

In no particular order, here’s some of what I came up with:

Decency matters to me. A lot.

I’ve never been a wallflower. But I will go even farther out of my way to meet different people from different place and with different backgorunds, especially if I might initially be disinclined to agree with them.

I will remember to respect the Office of the President even if I don’t admire the person who holds it.

I will continue to stand up for people in need and causes that are just. And I will continue to act in accordance with my values and based on what science and data lead me to believe.

I will change my mind when evidence and compelling arguments suggest that I should do so.

Life is full of uncomfortable tradeoffs. I will accept that, at times, we must be willing to give up something we value in exchange for something else that we value for different reasons.

I will remember that the news I follow is not “fake”, but that media outlets do have editorial agendas. The media is made of people, after all.

I will continue to participate in social media, but I will not contribute content that amplifies its worst tendencies.

I will find peace and inspiration in nature, and in my family, friends, and colleagues. I will not let political issues and parties define me.

I will learn lessons from my dog about how to live in the moment.

I will work even harder to assume positive intent in the actions of others. And I’ll focus even more on self-awareness and my own accountability. 

And I will always remain hopeful.

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and it reminds me to live by his words:

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.