On Sunny Lane: We Can Do It!

I like to do the puzzles in the newspaper—the Sudoku, crossword puzzle, Word Scramble and Wonder Word.

Seeing as how my column appears in the local newspaper, I subscribe to it and read it every day—at least, in a timely manner. However, I believe the puzzle page is the icing on the cake and is my reward for reading the news. As a result, I learn things that I am glad to know.

Contrary to the opinion of people who don’t actually read the newspaper, all of what it contains is not bad. In fact, scarcely an issue goes by that the front page doesn’t feature a story about a cancer survivor, a hero who made a rescue, or a high school athlete who made the big time.

Lately, I have seen stories about progress in our community. New manufacturers are moving in. Current manufacturers are expanding. New residential facilities are being built. Old, decaying buildings are being razed. A hospital that was closed because of bankruptcy is reopening under new ownership. Entire malls have been demolished to make way for new businesses and new shops.

On the other hand, when interviewed about how they believe the rise in tariffs will affect business in the United States and the community, respondents were pessimistic. They were mostly apprehensive about government programs that they feared would leave out deserving recipients.

It’s easy to become disillusioned and fearful when a new administration takes office. It seems to happen every four or eight years, when a different political party comes in.. People begin to anticipate horrendous changes that never happen--and lose sight of that fact. But, as bleak as the future may appear, fear, prejudice and negativity can blind us to the reality that is right before our eyes.

The human spirit is resilient, if only we put our minds to the task ahead. Sometimes, the task is simply to survive.

I just finished reading a book about the Great Depression that took place in the early part of the last century. My parents lived through it. Maybe, yours did, too. They made do with what they had and learned to be resourceful.

They raised gardens and chickens for food. They wore hand-me-down clothing. They wore shoes that they had worn holes in the bottom and then put cardboard in to cover the holes. They didn’t let anything, especially food, go to waste.

At the end of each story in the book, the author showed no rancor for what they had endured—not even those who had lost their homes, their farms or their businesses. They were proud that they had come through by pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps. And they felt stronger for weathering the financial storm

We can do the same—and feel proud about it.

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Dorothy is the author of two books—“Miles and Miracles” and “Getting It All Together “. You can purchase a book or send a comment by emailing her at dorothybutzknight@gmail.com