A new year often brings a sense of freshness, possibility, and, yes, of hope.
Once the holiday decorations are out, our homes look cleaner and sleeker, uncluttered and ready to face whatever the new year might have in store for us. We are tempted to imagine that a new year may show us ways to deal with our problems and turn our dreams into realities.
In short, we are hopeful.
As 2026 unfolds, I am not so sure much of that is the case.
I am beginning to feel that we are becoming a nation of cynics, having divided ourselves into “us” and “them.” Some of the division is political, “Rs” against “Ds.” Some of it is economic, the “haves” against the “have-nots.” Some of it is educational attainment, or not, and some of it is cultural, some religious, and some reflects differences from race to whether we live in a city or in a rural area. All are distinctions we have created among ourselves. None are naturally occurring.
In addition, modern polling tells us our feelings have become more negative than in years past.
CNN reports for the first time in over 10 years, more than half of Americans of all stripes believe our nation’s best days are behind us. Fully 3/4 of us think our political system is badly in need of major reforms, perhaps even a complete overhaul. Equally if not more alarming, the Wall Street Journal reports that fully 80-percent of us believe that our children may end up with more difficult lives than we have had.
Religion does not seem to be a large player in our national angst.
Gallup finds that while 81 percent of us say we believe in God, that percentage is falling and is well below the 90-plus belief rates of the 20th century. Empty seats in religious gatherings all over the nation demonstrate this decline, and the people who are in the pews are more likely to be closer to senior citizens than to teenagers who will eventually birth potential new worshipers.
Piled on top of all that is the passing of the 5th anniversary of the insurrection and attempted coup in Washington, an event marked by an official plaque honoring the police who defended democracy that day. It has now gone missing and is not on display as required by law.
The cold, hard reality of today’s United States is that few among us can do anything to affect the events and personalities that unfold both in our country and around the world. This helplessness no doubt underlies our increasing pessimism about our lives and those of future generations. We feel unheard and demoralized, both of which are accurate and reasonable assessments of our situation.
In 2026, I have decided to focus on my own world and to do all I can to help those around me find reasons for hope, as so many of us struggle not only with the pressures of our own daily living but also with the implications of national and world events on all of us. I will focus on what I can control, or at least affect, and try not to allow what I cannot control to get me down. I will remind myself of what is positive in my world and embrace those situations, qualities, and people.
I will remind myself daily of all that is right and not dwell on all that is wrong.
And, I will educate myself and vote for agents of positive change in 2026.