His name is/was Ken. We were in the Class of '70 in a small college. I haven't seen him since graduation

[lostnfound]

10. Oh no, don't fear the future for youth; believe in their resilience, imagination and power of re-invention

First of all, how beautiful it is to see snow in the mountains. To be in love while young. ‘Smart-creative types have the.power to reinvent themselves..

Look at Ukrainians. They have gone through hell, but what they still have is bravery, resilience, inventiveness, determination. They have purpose — clear purpose.

When it all collapses, if it does, the youth will find their purpose — to rebuild a new country, or to pursue their dreams elsewhere. They aren’t pinballs bouncing passively between bumpers. They may be experiencing the joy of teaching a four year old how to ski in a few years; or opening their own new quilting business;, or backpacking in the Andes, or studying octopi. Or just experiencing the sublime pleasures of glimpsing a pileated woodpecker or tasting the fresh tomatoes and peppers they grew on their patio.

As older generation, we had a path to follow, rather boring at times — laid out for us — go to college, get a job, buy a house — but when society or the economy is disrupted, more of life must be invented.

Lastly, i was walking an infant in a stroller a few months after 9-11. Lost in thought about the state of the world, but then being present. I talked to my infant as we walked: Life can be scary, but that’s why God made you brave. Life can be hard, but that’s why God made you strong. Life is complicated, but that’s why God made you smart.
Life can be beautiful. Life IS beautiful. A walk in the woods, by a stream or lake, is all it takes to remind one of that.