I know this has been shared a lot in the last 24 hours, but The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman really is worth sharing and watching again. The whole poem is beautiful and the message and her performance were perfect.

Some of my favorite excerpts from the poem that should resonate with every American:

“Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed
a nation that isn’t broken
but simply unfinished”

“And yes we are far from polished
far from pristine
but that doesn’t mean we are
striving to form a union that is perfect
We are striving to forge a union with purpose
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and
conditions of man
And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us
but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside
We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms
to one another
We seek harm to none and harmony for all”

“It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit,
it’s the past we step into
and how we repair it”

“We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation
rather than share it
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy
And this effort very nearly succeeded
But while democracy can be periodically delayed
it can never be permanently defeated”

“But one thing is certain:
If we merge mercy with might,
and might with right,
then love becomes our legacy
and change our children’s birthright”

“We will rebuild, reconcile and recover
and every known nook of our nation and
every corner called our country,
our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,
battered and beautiful
When day comes we step out of the shade,
aflame and unafraid
The new dawn blooms as we free it
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it
If only we’re brave enough to be it”

A new President, our first female Vice-President who is also African and Asian American, an administration that will listen to scientists, widespread distribution of the vaccine, Top Gun: Maverick–there’s a lot to be hopeful for in 2021.