Dear Friends,
This month our nation marks the passing of former President Jimmy Carter. I am not sure I can add too much more to the countless, well-deserved accolades that have been afforded him. For me, I was touched by the spirit he brought to his post-presidency. He was and is an inspiration for us all, especially during these troubled times. Despite his devastating reelection defeat, Carter defined a new challenge for himself, by pursuing his commitment to public health and human rights. He turned away from the crass commercialism that so many of our leaders pursue these days after leaving office. Carter continued to work for causes greater than himself.
His passing comes at a pivotal moment for our nation, a period when many Americans are struggling to pursue careers and personal paths that are balanced and sustainable. The uncertainties of our times nag at all of us and threaten our confidence and wellbeing.
What concerns so many of us going into the new year is the impact our own anxieties are having on the younger generation. Violence in schools, brain-changing addictions to social media and less than adequate interpersonal skills threaten our school children as never before. From what students and other rising adults tell me privately—and I talk to many of them—these young people are partially hiding from the anxiety and absences of their own parents.
For those of you who are feeling the weight of anxiety that comes with uncertainty, I want to assure you that you are not alone. At no time in my too-many-to-count decades have I encountered this specific emotion in quite this way. Sure, over the years, people of our country have felt worried and uneasy. But we did not necessarily feel frightened, discouraged, pessimistic, and ready, sometimes, to take those fears out on others—sometimes violently. And frustration? Not so much. Deep down we always felt that we had an economic and governance system that served to foster opportunity and progress in America. And, for the less fortunate we had a sense we were making progress in righting our many historical wrongs. Indeed, since the end of World War II, the United States has been on top of the world and in many ways we felt invulnerable. Today, an enormous percentage of our population doubts that this is still the case.
May I leave you with a powerful reason to be “optimistic” about the coming year and, indeed, the future? This country and the world have always faced enormous challenges. A casual reading of history can underscore that point. But nearly everything resides in one’s own attitude. Optimism and pessimism require significant amounts of emotional energy. Redirecting one’s emotions toward optimism allows for a more constructive use of that energy. Allowing pessimism to overtake one’s outlook leads to the very frustration, depression and anxiety that both ages us and deprives our young people of hope and happiness. It also robs us of the opportunity to see the miracles in small things, making gratitude harder to summon.
Let us all recognize that our families, our friends and our neighbors are watching us and are deeply influenced by how we see the world. The enemy is not within our country or within ourselves. This is an attribute that Jimmy Carter demonstrated to his community and our country every day. Let’s commit ourselves to making 2025 the year we all strive to be the best and the strongest, most optimistic versions of ourselves. It is time to pass that inspiration along.
With best wishes for the New Year,
Susan
PS We are closing our comments section going forward. I would appreciate it, however, if you would share what I have written with others and engage your friends on these topics. In the coming months, we will be in touch with you about new ways to reach me to express your thoughts, concerns and ideas.
Visit the photo gallery for more images of the wonderful experiences I had in France on my recent trip.
SusanEisenhower 