RENEWAL…..THE COURAGE TO FAIL

New Year, new map, new determination; thoughts of the realistic yet relentlessly upbeat. The latest map is of Newport, Rhode Island, surely one of the most iconic of American cities. Founded as one of the earliest colonies in a vast natural harbor, made prosperous by the whaling industry and finally morphed into a summer playground with amazing “cottages” and yachting’s Americas Cup. This place has seen as many ups and downs as anywhere and each time had the courage to remake itself in the face of daunting odds. As we face year 3 of the pandemic, there is surely no more human trait than the ability to confront and endure failure in the hope of achieving a better life in the end. Considering Newport’s very existence, who can doubt their courage, as anyone who has boarded a boat and considered the open sea, often without even knowing where they were going, and were willing to risk everything on a successful journey? We are at a similar crossroads again today, knowing that we have the means to overcome the current catastrophe but not knowing when or how that will happen or what things will look like when we get there. For all of us, Newport provides an excellent example of not giving in. Just when things looked darkest…think of when the last time you lit a lamp using whale oil…a new opportunity arose. Despite all the uncertainties, the promise of a new, better day is still out there and will be worth it. We, as a species, have been brave enough to venture out of our comfort zone for hundreds (even thousands) of years in order to improve our lives and now we have to do so again. 2022, we are here!