Keep going.
Keep going.
38th Edition - November 3rd, 2024 - The Bengsons, Greek proverbs, and Dr. Heather Cox Richardson
“I hope my rage, I pray my rage is a fire that cleans my mind out and makes me ready to listen. I pray my pain is a river that flows to the ocean that connects my pain to yours, and I pray, I pray my happiness is like pollen that flies to you and pollinates your joy, oh boy.” - Abigail Bengson
Hello, friends,
As we head into a significant (and stressful) week in America, I find myself struggling to find my own words to convey the thoughts and feelings I am having at this turning point. As always, I am drawn to ideas of resilience, hope, peace, self-reflection, and community as a way to ground my own distracted mind. I have found myself thinking about other stressful times in our recent history where so many of the things we thought were true and right and good were tested daily. I hear myself asking when things will go back to “normal”, and then I remember, as I wrote about several weeks ago, that I can’t be attached to the way things should be. I need to accept them as they are.
As I consider this current moment as an American, I find myself turning to others for inspiration, for words that will somehow calm my frantic mind. Then I remembered The Keep Going Song by The Bengsons, released in October 2020 at the height of turbulence of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Though it was shared on YouTube more than four years ago now, its relevance seems to only deepen with time, as we face new challenges and uncertainties together, so I had wanted to share it with all of you.
The piece itself is a song, yes, but it is more like a conversation, intimate and raw, as if the Bengsons are speaking directly to each one of us. They offer words of compassion and acknowledgment of the struggles we’ve endured, as well as a call to keep moving forward, no matter how rough the path may feel. What could be more pertinent to our current upheaval than a message of resilience and connection?
Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty
The song begins with the simple message: "Keep going, keep going, keep going on." It’s a mantra, a reminder, a lifeline to hold onto as we wade through difficult times. It acknowledges struggle without trivializing it, and it offers a space to feel pain and rage while still finding strength to move forward.
In a week that feels so high-stakes and fraught with tension, we need this reminder more than ever. The world feels heavy, our timelines filled with news stories that invoke anxiety, uncertainty, and maybe even despair. There’s this feeling in the air that everything could change—or nothing at all. The Keep Going Song speaks to that discomfort, but it also asks us to hold on to hope, even when we don’t know what’s coming next.
Shared Humanity: Finding Connection in Difficult Times
"I hope your body is whole tonight. And if your heart is breaking, I hope it's breaking open." - The Bengsons
It’s one thing to wish for happiness; It’s much more powerful to acknowledge the pain, the brokenness, and the vulnerability we might be feeling. And to be reminded that we’re not alone in it. There’s something profoundly healing about this level of connection. It’s an act of shared empathy—a reminder that while our struggles may be personal, they are also universal. This idea of collective empathy is what binds us, and it’s something that’s sorely needed right now as we grapple with not only the election but also the larger issues that continue to shape our world. We seem to have forgotten that we are all in this world together, and we desperately need that reminder.
When Abigail sings, "I pray my happiness is like pollen that flies to you and pollinates your joy," it’s such a beautiful image of interdependence. In a time where division seems more prevalent than ever, this image of joy being shared like pollen across flowers feels like a balm. What if we approached each other with this level of generosity, even as we face our differences? What if we saw each other’s joy as something that could multiply and spread, rather than something that is isolated or exclusive?
Making It Up As We Go: Embracing the Uncertainty
"We are making this up as we go," they sing. And aren’t we all? Life doesn’t come with a guidebook, and neither does leadership or navigating moments of massive cultural tension. Each of us is doing our best to keep going, often without a clear road map, adapting to the challenges as they come.
In leadership, as in life, the ability to embrace uncertainty and forge a path forward is essential. This week, we’re being asked to do just that. As leaders, educators, individuals, and (maybe most importantly) as a community of humans, we have a responsibility to show up, to keep going, even if we don’t have all the answers. We also have a responsibility to recognize that we really don’t know what others are going through, what their experiences have been, or how they have shaped their reality. That is perhaps one of the hardest parts of being a person. It’s okay to not have it all figured out; what matters is that we keep moving, even if our steps are small or tentative, and it’s even better if we can see ourselves and our own journey in others.
Planting Seeds for the Future
Toward the end of the song, The Bengsons sing about planting seeds for the world they want to see—a world they’re imagining and creating within themselves. They’re not speaking of grand gestures or monumental shifts; they’re talking about the small, quiet work of tending to hope and building a better future, moment by moment, choice by choice.
In this election season, it’s easy to feel like so much is out of our hands, like the outcomes are beyond our control. But we have the power to plant seeds within ourselves, to cultivate the change we want to see. Our actions, no matter how small, contribute to the larger picture. We might not see immediate results, but every act of kindness, every moment of empathy, every choice to keep going is a part of the world we’re building for tomorrow. The Greek proverb, “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit,” feels so very poignant right now.
Holding Space for Ourselves and Each Other
As I sit with this song and the emotions it stirs, I feel a deep sense of gratitude. Gratitude for art and artists like The Bengsons, who give voice to the experiences that so many of us feel but can’t always articulate. Gratitude for the resilience we carry, often without even realizing it. And gratitude for the shared journey we’re on, even as it leads us through uncertain terrain.
This week, as you navigate the highs and lows, I invite you to hold onto The Keep Going Song as a touchstone. Let it remind you that you’re not alone, that your pain is seen, and that there is beauty and strength in the simple act of continuing.
As you go through the next few days, maybe ask yourself:
How can I show up with resilience, even when I feel uncertain?
What seeds am I planting for the future I want to see?
Who can I reach out to and remind, “You’re not alone. We’ll keep going together”?
Thank you for being here, for being a part of this community, and for bringing your whole self to this journey. Let’s keep going, together.
Until next time—stay hydrated, take good care, and keep leading with empathy, one conversation at a time.
Warmly,
Tim
Quote of the week:
“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” - Greek Proverb
For me, this saying speaks volumes in times like this. It reminds us that true greatness comes when we think of the collective good—when we make choices that might benefit others more than ourselves. In today’s society, we need to shift from ‘me’ to ‘we’ for a more resilient and connected future.
What I’m Thankful For:
This week, I’m thankful for resilience—the kind that keeps us moving forward, even when everything feels uncertain or overwhelming. I’m grateful for the subtle reminders all around us, like the entries in my COVID journals that I revisited this week, showing how we made it through one day at a time. Sometimes, just documenting our experiences helps us survive them, and that is resilience in itself. As we head into what promises to be an intense week—and likely several intense months ahead—I’m holding onto that message, grateful for the strength it inspires.
What I’m Reading & Listening To
Education:
District Administration - Cost of conflict: Schools now spend billions dealing with division
Schools today are more than just centers for academic learning—they've become battlegrounds for ideological conflicts and cultural divisions, often mirroring the larger societal rifts we see. The financial costs discussed in the article are staggering, but the human costs—the strain on teachers, the stress on students, and the fractures in community trust—are just as, if not more, impactful. This article reminds me of the importance of cultivating a school culture grounded in understanding and connection. For those of us in leadership roles, it reinforces the need to lead with empathy, prioritize the well-being of our communities, and build bridges that help heal rather than deepen divides even when the loudest voices seem to be against us.
Mental Health and Wellness:
This may not seem like a typical addition to a mental health and wellness section, but understanding the broader context of the moment we’re living through can be incredibly grounding. In this episode of the podcast Unlocking Us, two of my favorite experts, Dr. Brené Brown and Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, engage in a profound conversation about the implications of our current historical and political landscape. For me, this discussion has served as an anchor, helping me shift from irrational anxiety to a more grounded perspective. I was especially struck by Dr. Richardson’s insights on how fear can be weaponized by those seeking disproportionate power, a tactic we’ve seen play out leading up to November 5th. I highly recommend listening to these two powerhouses in conversation for anyone looking to navigate these times with a clearer, more balanced mindset.
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Thank you for the positivity! Keeping going ... here to help others do the same!