Six words.

They're helping me. Maybe they'll help you too.

I am not a home design influencer and thus, I have no obligation to swap out the tired letterboard on my desk for something more on-trend.

But I did need to change the message on it.

In January of 2024, it displayed a reminder I needed to hear at the time, but which no longer feels relevant.

So last week, as I was reading through terrible news story after terrible news story — and that was before all the new terrible news stories of this week — I thought, what can I write that will give me more comfort than WE ARE IN HELL or THERE IS NO BOTTOM or hey, just a random curse word or two.

My default is generally snark, but I’m pushing back on myself. The last thing I need on my desk is another reminder that everything around us feels awful.

I went with this.

It seems Wendi Aarons and I were channeling each other, which wouldn’t be the first time.

I know that quite a few of you come here to feel a little better about the state of the world. We are all looking for a bit of hope, some silver linings, or just a brief respite from the unfathomably destructive storm swirling around us.

Today, this is what I can give you: A reminder that there is a whole lot of room for things to get better — if we make it so.

I guess that’s the unwritten part.

We are the cavalry. We are the knights in shining armor. We are the designated heroes who will save ourselves.

Where to start? (That’s always the question!)

• Use the 5 Calls app every single day to reach your elected reps. It has impact! It doesn’t matter if they’re red or blue, they work for you, and they should hear from you. Daily. I even replaced the NY Times app on my home screen with 5 Calls. (Be polite and respectful; the legislative aides manning the phones have been very nice in my experience.)

• You can find more terrific ideas in these 30 lonely but beautiful actions you can take right now from

  Garrett Bucks
  . (h/t
  Asha Dornfest
  )

• Also read Goodness is Not Powerless: How to change the world without being a billionaire from

  Brad Montague
  .

I’ll have more to share tomorrow or so.

Today, what I have to give you are six words on a cheap letterboard on top of my not-ready-for-Instagram desk. Maybe they will help you too.

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