Well, it is a quirk of the calendar. We had no way of predicting, but the one year anniversary for Steady, today, January 22, falls on a Saturday. And that means our feature, “Smile for a Saturday.” It seems fitting.
What we hope to do at Steady is not shy away from all that is fraught in these difficult times. We need to confront the challenges to our democracy, our public health, our civic life, the truth, all of it, head on. But we also cannot forget the joys of life, the rays of sunshine and hope that can fill our lives, and that we can bring to others.
For today, we thought a song was in order. Music has a remarkable power to uplift.
We wanted one that expressed our thanks to all of you for joining us here. It turns out there are a lot of songs about gratitude. But we gravitated to one that instantly brought smiles to our faces. It’s not a complicated song, because as the singer/songwriter Natalie Marchant says, she “always wanted to write a song that had a universal, simple sentiment.”
“Thank you” is a simple phrase, but one that carries a lot of meaning. So many people act in ways big and small each day that help others for no expected monetary or other return other than the satisfaction that comes from the act itself.
In times of struggle, sadness, and fear, let us all remember the helpers in the world, and try to be helpers to others. Let us be kind and generous. And let us not take all that is good out there for granted.
Thank you.
My parents are much less mobile in their later years and some kind neighbor has been taking in their bins and even shoveling snow without them knowing. They thought maybe it was their closest neighbors of 45 years lending a hand but after spotting him, it turned out to be a newer, unknown young man from 5 houses away. He saw them struggle one day and he’s been helping ever since. He is no longer unknown :) Thank you to this young man for helping my parents and for giving me hope that goodness is still out there.
Dan Rather, you have become the Mr. Rogers of our political neighborhood.