I was born into a world where Jimmy Carter was President of the United States. I don't know who will be in that seat when I head outta here, but I hope they are even a tiny bit as decent of a person as he was. 

Since he passed away, I've heard people say things like, “We didn't deserve him.” “He was too good for us.” And other similar sentiments. I had the same thoughts myself, but I’ve been thinking about it in the days since and I think we DO deserve to have that kind of person in office. We’ve just kind of convinced ourselves that someone like that isn’t an option or that the country don't deserve it. It reminds me of someone stuck in an abusive relationship.

Just because we’re not used to a political leader being motivated by doing what they believe is morally right, instead of making decisions based on political consequences, it doesn’t mean we don’t deserve one. We were lucky enough to have once had someone in office who valued peace and people over material gain and over being reelected. That doesn’t mean every decision he made was perfect. He was human after all. But trying our hardest to live by our values is really the best any of us can do. 

What’s about to happen in eleven days is scary and who even knows what’s in store. I’ve been thinking about how no matter who is "in charge" we still have the choice to live by our values, with others in mind too. That doesn’t mean it will always be easy or that everyone will always agree with us. And it doesn't mean that we won't make mistakes. I for sure don’t have the answers. But right now it feels like community is the way forward. Really focusing on what we can do in our communities—locally and even online. Doing what we can to help each other, even if it’s just saying something nice to someone for god sakes! The past couple of days, we’ve been watching what’s happening with the wildfires in California and it is so heartbreaking and horrifying. And in the middle of that are so many people doing whatever they can to help each other. 

So, I’m going to do my best to not focus on hopelessness when it creeps in. I'm going to remember that someone like Jimmy Carter existed. For 100 years. And became President. And did it his way. And kept on helping others in all the years after. People like that do exist in the world. Rarely are they elected President, but they’re out there. As family. As friends. As neighbors. And I find comfort in that. Stay safe out there yall. And keep up the fight.