After the election I, like many folks, spiraled into all sorts of worst case scenario thinking. I have hope that Pres. Trump isn’t going to be as bad as I fear, though early indications aren’t making me feel confident in that hope.
Marisa is away this weekend, and so I decided I wanted to keep this weekend politics free. Needing to clear my head yesterday I did what I so often do: went for a walk.
I’ve always been a walker, but after college I found myself not walking much. I missed the wanders I used to take and a FitBit gave me reason to pick up the habit again (and I just realized I’ve been FitBitting for 5 years!).
I headed out with one goal: walk 5000 steps in one direction and 5000 back.
On my walk I came across Independence Hall and it reminded me that this country was born out of great strife in a troubled time.
As I continued my walk I passed the Second National Bank, a building I’ve walked past countless times:
I’ve often wondered what it looks like inside, but I had no idea it housed a Portrait Gallery called “People of Independence!” I thought maybe this was a new thing, but it has been there since the 1970’s. I went in and spent a good long time reading about every portrait in the place.
As you might expect, it was mostly white dudes who were involved with America’s independence (along with a smattering of women and black folks). It made me feel better knowing that when times are tough there are people, maybe just a few but still, that stand up for what’s right.
I don’t know if I’m as brave as the people in that gallery, but I do know that I’ll do my part in making sure that this president doesn’t ruin all the work that has gone before.