One. More. Flight. A fellow passenger said to me last night, “it’s good how at the back of the plane we get an opportunity to practice our patience.” I believe he was entirely genuine, and I found his comment enlightening.

There is so much negativity in this country and in the world at large right now. It doesn’t seem like things are going right; the economy is suffering, it feels like every modus operandi is geared toward the benefit of companies and corporations, and the political arena appears hopeless.

But there is also much good in the world. Life is better for the average person than it was 200 years ago. More people than ever are engaged with changing our world for the better politically, and through the proliferation of technology we can identify and communicate about our problems better than ever before.

It’s important to accept the dire reality of our predicament, but also to embrace the progress thus far achieved, and to believe we can propel further forward. It will take grit and determination. I believe we can do it.