Jesse Steele

Some years, we mainly learn. Other years, we work. When times support our work, we work. When times direct our learning, we learn.

As troubled and hard as the learning years can be, the working years wouldn’t be a tenth as productive without them. The reason winter makes trees grow deep roots is the need to find water. Freeze all the water and trees grow deep. Then, they can grow taller and faster in the easy months. Just imagine all the new ways to live and love and thrive we find, all because of a few long months of hardship.  · · · →

Don’t live in shame alone. The sneaky thing about shame is that it requires privacy. The moment you share your shame, it vanishes and its grip along with it. But, that’s the catch.

Shame protects itself. Shame doesn’t want to be exposed. Shame won’t let itself be expunged. So, when you threaten the life of your own shame, your own shame will give you pain. How much do you want your shame gone?

Do you want it gone enough to make it go away? Do you want it gone enough to tell your friends? They love you, not your shame.  · · · →

We must have victory, though victory rarely arrives the way we think it will. Usually, we can achieve victory in fierce peace; occasionally victory requires war. Too often we jump to war, which is why we fail too often. More war is not the answer. But, if that’s what we want, we can keep the failure that follows unneeded war.

Many times we choose weakness—to lay down as floor mats, thinking self-abuse is peaceful. Nearly all struggles have a peaceful path to victory and few ever find it. Those few who do are more than peace-lovers; they are peacemakers.  · · · →

Storms are made of raindrops. Any one drop by itself seems insignificant, though a single drop on your forehead can warn you of millions more on the way. That’s the power of raindrops: They work together.

Democracies thrive on free speech. Open communication of ideas allows the government formed by the people to access its most valuable resource: information from the public. Legislatures vote on ideas because of ideas. And, those small, simple ideas have their power because they are exchanged through small, simple conversations.

So, everywhere you go, drip your ideas. You might not believe what difference you make.  · · · →