Hey there,
Fair warning: For the first time in 110 newsletter issues, today’s is a completely personal topic that may cause some stress to read. Read till the end, where I make it up to you with a story that will warm your heart.
For my entire adult life I’ve shut out politics. I’ve shut out the news. As in, I can’t hold a conversation about either topic. As in, third graders know about elected leaders, world events, and (especially) tragedies days before I find out.
It’s a decision I made in my late teens. That, I didn’t need to participate in what I find to be overlaid with the ugliest parts of humanity. Power, greed, violence, separatism.
And in large part, it served me well. The doom and gloom many others carried, never landed in my lap.
For 30+ years, I’ve focused on family, friendships, nature, sports, and business. I prided myself on being someone who didn’t open the conversation about the car crash on the parkway, the baby who was abducted, taxes, or the 8th public figure of the week involved in another “scandal.”
How exhausting.
As corny as it may sound, I subscribe to the belief that your energy really does flow where your attention goes. So I steered clear of anything that pulled it down.
But over the past 12 months - and certainly this past week - this world we’ve created has become impossible to tune out. And it’s not like I’m sitting here watching CNN. Hardly.
It’s that the environment I built around me - carefully tuned to only let in the right information - is breaking down.
My own backyard, where immigrant families are being torn apart while neighbors I mistook as friends show their true colors.
My safe spaces are crumbling…
My work.
TV shows.
Football games.
Technology outlets.
Business-first channels.
Questions my sons are asking me.
Conversations around the dinner table.
All overrun with a general sense of unease. Of panic.
And a way of living, which I fought my entire life to resist, is becoming harder to avoid: us vs them.
I hate that notion. It is the literal opposite of how I aim to exist in this world.
In my heart of hearts, I believe we’re all one. But there’s a growing population of people with wealth, power, or fame who don’t see it that way.
They don’t celebrate diversity. They don’t play well with others who don’t look, speak, act, vote, or live how they do. They don’t share my longstanding belief that everyone is doing the best they can.
Everything is a fight with them. Absolute power or bust, as they singe the world around them.
And while I’ve never been a guy that’s tried to change their minds, let alone save them… I don’t know if I can ignore them anymore. But I can do something.
I can remain true to my beliefs and values. I can surround myself with people who put love above hate. Who would sooner create a world that’s filled with peace and equal abundance, than one to be controlled and won (as if that’s a thing).
I’m sorry if this email upset you.
I’m sorry if this newsletter was one of your safe spaces, where you came to tune out the world. Next week, I’ll go back to talking about offers and business growth so we can all make enough money to buy a big island away from egomaniacs and AI.
But today, I chose to use this little platform of mine to share some hard truths I’ve been battling with.
And now, to make up for any anxiety I may have caused you, let me share a very personal experience that brought me so much joy this week.
I bought this card game to spark more deep, meaningful conversations with my family.
The very first question: What motivates you in life?
Without hesitation, my 15-year-old Brody said, “Jason.” (his 17-year-old brother)
With tears in my eyes, I asked him, “Why Jason?”
He said, “Because he’s a good person.”
This meant the world to me, on a couple levels.
Brody has been struggling since COVID. He never rebounded from the happy boy he was. He went from the kid that lifted up friends, classmates, and teammates, to continually disappointed with the world. And subsequently, he’s closed lots of doors around him.
But his bond with his brother has only gotten stronger. Especially in the last year, where Jason - entirely on his own - has built a relationship with God. And as his light has continued to shine brighter, it’s helped cast away some of Brody’s shadows.
It gets better. Dozens of Jason’s friends are following suit.
They’re not drinking and doing drugs. Not mistreating one another. Not doomscrolling TikTok drama.
They’re waking up at 7 AM and going to church.
They’re going to youth group to pray and volunteer.
They’re sitting at the library to talk about the bible.
All on their own. Without needing to change anyone, but quietly inspiring others in their wake.
What Jason is doing for his brother, his Dad, family, and community is all that any of us can do.
To be ourselves. To be a light. To model love and kindness. And hope that the world reflects it back to you.
P.S. Instagram is still a source of positivity for me. Here are several accounts I follow that lift me up.
The Daily Show - slightly more political, but with tons of comic relief
Unforgettable Bloopers - pure, light-hearted comedy
Ocie Elliot - love their music, but also how they post songs singing to each other
If you follow more accounts like these and few negative, drama, within a few short weeks your feed will become a refuge, too.
🤘 See ya next week,
Jay Melone
Reply