I’m writing this before the 2024 election results are in. Right now, I have no idea who won or lost, or what kind of fallout we’ll see. But no matter how it shakes out, I wanted to share something hopeful about this crazy, beautiful country of ours.
This election felt like life or death for so many people. Both sides acted like if the other won, it’d be the end of America. I watched a video where a woman said if her candidate lost, she’d kill herself. I really hope she didn’t mean it, but it stuck with me. No matter what, about half the country is probably feeling crushed right now, thinking the future is bleak.
This is for you.
America Is a Work in Progress
I was reading a historical novel recently, and it reminded me what America looked like in the 1920s—just a hundred years ago:
- Gangs basically ran our biggest cities.
- The average life expectancy was only 54 years—today it’s around 78.
- Black Americans couldn’t shop, eat, or even live in the same places as white people. Lynchings were still a reality in some parts of the country.
- Many urban rivers were literal sewers.
- And by the end of that decade, the Great Depression hit, with 1 in 4 Americans out of work.
Let’s be honest—America was a mess. But if we’re being real, America’s history has been one long string of messes. We’ve survived a Civil War that killed 2% of our population, two world wars, the assassinations of beloved leaders, the chaos of Vietnam, the shock of 9/11, and the trauma of Covid.
But here’s the thing: we got through it. We always do. And each time, we move forward.
Where We Are Today
Despite everything, America today is a place that people around the world still dream about. Our economy is strong and resilient, and our lives—on the whole—are better than those of our grandparents. We live longer, our air and water are cleaner, and our universities and companies attract the best and brightest from across the globe.
We’re leaders in space exploration, technology, and medicine. And let’s not forget, our music, movies, and sports influence cultures everywhere.
The bottom line? No one president, no one election, is going to erase all of that.
One of the clearest signs of America’s enduring hope is at our southern border. People are literally risking their lives to get here—not because we’re perfect, but because they believe this is still the land of opportunity. You don’t see that happening in Russia or China.
I remember hosting a friend from Africa once. I asked him what surprised him most about America, and he said, “You water your lawns with clean drinking water.” That hit me hard. It’s easy to forget how much we take for granted.
Zoom Out
If your candidate didn’t win and it feels like the world is ending, I hope you can take a step back. Look at the bigger picture. America’s story is still being written. We’ve been through worse, and we’ve always come out stronger.
This country is still full of hope and possibility. America is still becoming.