"fear is not the natural state of civilized people" - aung san suu kyi

Throughout the past few weeks, it has become blatantly obvious that we have become afraid and consequently we have become defensive. When you focus on the negative you stop thinking rationally, and that is so incredibly dangerous - especially now. I cannot cannot cannot express enough: this is not a campaign of fear. It is a campaign of hope. 

We cannot know the outcome, and we cannot know that putting our whole hearts into this situation will leave them unbroken. We cannot even know that the decisions and outcomes will be the right ones. But we can hope that what we are doing, whatever it is, will be enough. This is why you have to do something.

We can open our minds and share with others what we know. We can listen and learn and grow. Volunteer. Speak louder and stand up just a little bit taller. All based upon a foundation in which we believe. Consequently, hope remains and will prevail. 

Really, that is all he is asking us to do. Because of him, many have changed, and will continue to change those around them in hopes of evolution, revolution, inspiration and growth. He is asking you not only to hope, but to believe. And to do all that you can in order to show it, especially now when so many people are taking the defensive route and essentially giving up. 

Nothing is over. We have a long way to go and it will be scary and beautiful and completely insane. So he is asking you, as an individual, to give a shit. The simplicity of knowing that because of this, all we truly need to do is act upon the hope we have that tomorrow will be better, makes this all just a little bit less horrifying. Regardless of the outcome, do not go down defeated with your tail between your legs. Do not go down. Fight. Support. Hide your fearful cynicism with proactive competition. Unfaltering in your support for the one who has changed the world through supporting you.

I am not saying think like me, think like him, any.any.any of that. I am simply saying think. 

Think for yourself, think for others, think for today and tomorrow and ten years from now.

Think, react, and for god's sake, exercise your rights as a US citizen. 

But above all things, please: Think.

v.o.t.e

v.o.l.u.n.t.e.e.r