According to recent polls, nearly 80% of Americans are feeling  fearful and angry.  The issues that provoke these feelings are the  coronavirus pandemic, the economic downturn,   the Afghanistan retreat,  and civil unrest spreading across America’s cities.  Last year at this time, we thought things would be better by the summer of 2021.  But they’re not.  We thought the vaccine would take us back to normal.  Trouble is, half of our citizens refuse to get vaccinated, so we’re back to the crisis level. Hospitals are filling up once again with cases of the delta strain.  After a year and a half of misery,  we’re discouraged, and worried how it’s all going to affect  our grandkids .  But yesterday,  I felt an emotion I hadn’t experienced for a long time.  Seeing my grandsons running their hearts out at  cross country  filled me with optimism.  Attending a state wide cross country meet inspires hope.

These boys and girls have been in lockdown at a time when they should have been going to class, attending parties, seeing their friends and having a carefree  teenage life.  The only thing I can compare it to is my own teenage years following World War II.  Although we weren’t so  isolated, we grew up scared.  I remember waking up at night, hearing the sound of a distant train, worried that the Germans were coming.  Our brothers, fathers, uncles and cousins went to war and often didn’t come back..  Some of them endured torture in Japanese prison camps.  No wonder we became the “silent generation.”

Silent generation characteristics included  interpersonal respect, self sacrifice, determination and most importantly, resilience.  Those same characteristics are required  to participate in cross country.

Yesterday, thousands of boys and girls throughout Indiana raced across the grass , and returned covered with sweat.  Some of them did very well and came in close to the top.  However, others came in toward the end.  But here’s the thing.  I was in a place where I could watch them returning from the race.  There was an incredible camaraderie and affection in the air.  Slower runners congratulated those who’d made better time.  There didn’t seem to be many winners or losers.  Kids walked with their arms around each other.  Parents and grandparents glowed with  pride.   The sun was shining, It  was a beautiful day filled with the joy, love,  and hope.

I predict the “covid” generation will share some of the same characteristics of the silent generation. The previous  “me” generations had everything handed to them, and didn’t have to worry about going to war.  Generally speaking, they were spoiled and unappreciative of what they had.  My grandchildren know that life is unpredictable, and they have learned to deal with that.  In some ways, they are  more mature than their parents were at the same age.   These are the children who will grow up to lead our country in the years to come.  And the lessons they have learned will serve this nation well.

Want to feel hopeful again?  Come  out for a high school cross country meet.