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Rx for Resilience: Humility
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.” C.S. Lewis
Jimmy Carter embodied humility, a quality often regarded as the greatest of virtues. Humility offers an antidote to the emptiness that can accompany the relentless pursuit of things that ultimately don’t matter. It shifts our focus from the external to the internal, from fleeting pleasures like consumption and self-absorption to enduring values such as character, calm, and meaningful connection with others. Embracing humility allows us to acknowledge our limitations and recognize that we are part of something greater than ourselves. This understanding fosters the kind of connection and purpose that material possessions or even countless “likes” on social media can never provide.
After the announcement of his passing, The New York Times published a headline that read, “America Needs More Jimmy Carters.” This week, we say goodbye to a man who refused to let an average—or some might say less-than-average—Presidency define him. Instead, he spent the second half of his life making an extraordinary difference in the world as a courageous servant, diplomat and global peace broker. That is resilience paired with humility.
May all Americans strive to embody a little more “Jimmy Carter” as we shift our lives to serve, contribute and cultivate peace in our own tiny corners of the world, in our thoughts, and in our hearts.
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