[first posted Dec 18, 2016]
I campaigned for you, Obama, and am proud I did so. Since the time you became our president, our family has done better, and it has grown. Our elderly parents have been secure with their social security and medicare payments, something they needed. My kids felt anything was possible for them, especially my daughter, who wants to be a president princess scientist.
Our mortgage was a good one, and so, we are paying things down. Our public schools are strong too, rating— and getting— better each year. My husband’s teachers union is active, which affords us a decent middle-class lifestyle, and extra money to hire local folks to put up our new fence, fix our closet, lay down a new patio— and gives us extra money to spend in the community on food, products, education, and experiences.
My brother, despite a pre-existing heart condition, was able to find health insurance under the new laws. If I were still reliant only on my small business, I would need Obamacare too.
Our kids are being raised to act with kindness, give the benefit of the doubt, tell the truth, work hard, and take responsibility for their own actions. They are being raised to be fair, think complexly, and to love. They know that being smart with money is important, but not as important as integrity of person.
I have felt a sense of ease in this world these last 8 years too: a feeling that a genuinely good person—making decisions from core values of respect, balance and compassion—was in charge of our nation. Mr. President, I have felt inspired by your keen intelligence, your ability to weigh complex matters, and your love of the Constitution. I felt comfortable too, that we had a person in charge who would do his homework, and not miss a single detail.
I felt certain that our president was less reactive than the average person, myself included, and that this is good.
I have not had my head in the sand either. I have seen the threats to this country, people who have interests counter to that of the American public, from forces within, and forces without our drawn borders— and I have seen terrible acts of violence. When I looked to my president after these harrowing moments, I saw sanity, measured response and appropriate action.
I felt protected. I felt hope in my bones.
Some may say our feelings don’t matter. That things were really actually terrible, threats were looming— if not sponsored— by our leaders. Some say that facts don’t matter anymore. Some say unpredictability and business sense brings safety. Some say unbridled capitalism brings wealth to all. I say, it hasn’t worked like that in my life.
Some say that the sky is falling, when I know, I’m standing within it just fine.
I know, when I have a good day, feeling strong and solvent and hopeful, I do better by my kids, my community, and all that comes from that emotional place bears good fruit. When I feel safe, my labors are purposeful, my actions meaningful. My charity bountiful. When I feel afraid or suspicious, I make bad decisions, tend to mistrust people, and clamp down on my resources —instead of letting them flow outward into the world. I tend to be less kind, and less creative at those tough times too. I don’t like these times, and I know I must stop and reset my perspective. Because perspective matters.
I thank you Obama, for giving me hope. For real. And I thank you for doing the hard work of making your values, grow via policy, into a genuinely safe and abundant life for so many. I thank you for being decent, when all about you wanted you to be angry instead. I thank you for being measured and thoughtful, when all about you wanted you to retaliate at the ‘falling sky’ and blame any resulting failing on someone else. I thank you for working hard, and for doing your homework. I thank you for caring about me: a suburban white woman with kids and a small business.
I thank you for being my president. Our president. You have made me proud, and deeply patriotic, and I will miss you as my land’s leader. I will continue to pray for you and all that you have done for my country, and I will continue act— for all the intangibles you gave us these last 8 years. Hope. Security. Decency. Integrity. Kindness. Compassion. Wisdom. Gratitude and Good Times too. I will honor the Constitution, in letter and in spirit, because you taught me to love it.
Thank you too for a better economy, for more jobs and improved educational opportunities; thank you for getting health care for those I love, and for sanctioning freedom to love for people of all kinds. Yes, your work is a big f*cking deal, and I will help it live on.
Much love and respect to you and Michelle, Sasha and Malia and Marian,
Elizabeth
P.S. Please say thanks to Joe too.