Seven things I know . . .

I feel a few things in my heart. Here’s seven of them:

–Despite a sea of hatred . . . Despite all the crummy news . . . Despite all of it, there’s lots of good things happening all around us.

• More children and adults are able to attend school and get a quality education than ever before in our history.
• There’s progress in mental health. People are talking about mental health more openly and seeking help.
• Scientists are constantly making breakthroughs that can help treat and cure diseases.
• The world is moving towards more sustainable energy sources. 
• Technology is improving our lives in countless ways, from communication to transportation.
• Organizations are working tirelessly to alleviate suffering and give aid to those in need.

We want faster progress, but progress is still progress.

–When I wake up and see the sun come up, I know that good will come.

–There’s war. There’s cancer. There’s hurt and despair. I know that, but I also know that This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine . . . Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

It’s hokey. It’s corny. But sometimes the things we learn when we’re four or five years old are just as important as the complex, multi-layered ideas that we learn as adults.

–I know my wife loves me. When I’m at my lowest lows, she’s got my back. Hopefully, we all have someone like that. They’re lifesavers.

–The creatures that come out from the forest behind my house are varied. There’s the occasional deer (usually a doe and her fawn); a flurry of squirrels running this way and that; and a family of bunny rabbits that like to graze on the dewy grass. There’s even a grumpy-looking gopher that gets up on its hind legs to get a better view. From the safety of the woodland edge, they look up the hill at me with quizzical looks. It’s like they’re questioning “who is this guy?” I like to think they’re trying to tell me something. When I’ve had a long day and look down at them from my deck, I like to think they have a lesson for me. Maybe something about the meaning of life? Maybe something about human virtues? However, for the life of me, I’m not sure what they’re telling me.

–When stress gets to be too much, nature is the answer. It’s always the answer. A walk. A hike. It’s always better.

–Helen Keller lost her sight and hearing as a toddler. She overcame incredible adversity to be an author, activist, and educator. She was onto something when she said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart.”

Now I hope you know these things too.