COLUMN: My American dream
Let’s not pretend this last week hasn’t been hard on all of us. It’s been a combo of making big decisions and arguing after the decisions have been made. Even being an objective journalist has been a tough job – people always blame the messengers.
But for the next five minutes or so while you read this column, let’s pretend. Let’s pretend the economy, the war, health care issues and party distinctions are all at peace for the moment. With all those things gone, out of mind, what do we have left to talk about?
My thoughts go right back to my own version of the American dream– finishing my education, getting a job I enjoy, getting a husband I enjoy even more, working from home with a few kids that I can afford to raise in a better than average town, paying for all they need and much of what they want, sending them to college to get educations of their own, then watching my grown children start their own American dream. I know this dream leans heavily toward idealism, and thus it will be hard to come by in any day and time. Not just anyone can have the American dream. You have to be willing to sacrifice, fight for it. You have to keep your head in the game. So how do you that?
I recently read a paper about people’s mindsets. The paper was based of a book titled “MindSet” by Carol Dweck and the whole idea was that people are either of a fixed mindset or a growing mindset. Fixed mind setters believe the world is what it is and there is generally very little a person can do to change it. Challenges are unavoidable and unprofitable; another person’s success is by default their failure. People with this mindset often don’t realize they think this way. Growth mindset individuals on the other hand are the opposite. They look at challenges as unavoidable, yes, but beneficial for learning and growth. They view the mind as a muscle that can be exercised to increase potential and actually reach that potential.
Now, I haven’t read the book yet, I bought a copy this week so be looking for future insights, but I would be willing to bet that those people who actually live their version of the American dream fall into the category of growth-minded individuals. They believe things may be as they are now, but they can change for the better, and not just by natural consequences of living. People, individual people, make change.
I’ve been running with this thought for the last few weeks because I think it has the potential to impact everybody’s life for good. If individual people can make individual changes that can lead to things like the good old American dream regardless of the world around them, what would happen if a group of people made the same kinds of changes?
I know I preach in the realm of idealism. And while I preach there I live here and there’s a big sign out front blaring “Welcome to Reality Big Shot. Now what you going to do?” I guess we have to stop pretending now.
But that’s why I like this idea of mindset. Regardless of what McCain campaigners are willing to admit, I had a pretty sure feeling Obama was headed to the White House way before this whole thing was said and done. Whether that’s yea or nay, I don’t render an opinion here. But it does bring up this concept of change. During campaigning, Obama threw the world around like Fourth of July parade candy – you either catch it or it hits you in the head – and now it’s time for him to make good on his word. This is where Americans start freaking out and start thinking, “He said change. I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that change is hard and not always a good thing. Crap.” This is where our mindset goes to work. It isn’t going to be easy and we may not get it right every time. But to grow as a country we have to be willing to fail, hopefully not miserably or drastically, but to getting the right answers for the big issues like the economy and health care doesn’t simply mean putting a check in a different box. It’s a growing process.
There is going to be a lot of hype out there for the next few months about becoming a united America under Obama. I can tell you there is no such thing as a united America. America is far too diverse a place with too many different kinds of people.At some point, people pick sides. It’s natural and will happen. We may be the United States but we are the diverse America. However, if Americans will choose a growing mindset, decide that no matter where we are today, no matter who is at the wheel or what bumps in the road may come, America, as diverse as it may be, can get through it, and be better for it.
We may not be one nation under Obama. But we still can be one nation.
Comments and questions can be sent to mikaylie.kartchner@aggiemail.usu.edu