What If?

I was nudged by Dawn to read this column by Jon Carroll. It's a very good piece, and I suggest you give it a read before you continue.

Go ahead. I'll wait.

Ready?

I was thinking about this on the way to work this morning. Thinking about what it might mean for our country and our culture now that Ladies Who Wear Hats have taken over the White House.

What if we lived in a society where disrespect was not tolerated?

What if we lived in a society where we looked out for our families, our friends, our neighbors both near and far?

What if we lived in a society where we took responsibility and held ourselves accountable for our actions, words and deeds?

What if we held each other accountable for our actions, words and deeds?

What if, instead of walking away when things got hard, we stuck by and got through?

What would happen if we had the hard conversations, aired our grievances, listened to the grievances of others with an open mind, and came to solutions we could all live with?

Instead of giving up the cause as lost?

What if we could agree to disagree, but still work together towards a solution?

What if, instead of looking out for ourselves, we looked out for each other?

Instead of buying the next newer, better, bigger thing, we got by with what we had and helped those who have less?

What if we kept to ourselves less and got to know each other more?

What if we could accept that everyone is different and that it is ok to support and nurture and love them, anyway?

What could we achieve, as a nation, if we could learn to look beyond ourselves and our own best interests?

What do you think might change?