In times like these, it helps to remember there have always been times like these. – Paul Harvey
Paul Harvey was an American radio announcer, fondly remembered for, among other things, his news commentaries. His father was a police officer killed in the line of duty when Harvey was three and he secured his first job in radio at KVOO Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1933, when he was 14. At his peak, Harvey reached 24 million Americans every week on 1,200 radio stations. His trustworthiness not only got him a loyal audience but loyal sponsors as well, both equal parts of a radio announcers job and this is not the first time this quote has been featured in this column.
In times like these…
Everyone likes to think they are living at the salt and summit of their times. It’s the way us humans are built. We like to think our accomplishments are supreme, that we are generally transcending the times and that history’s long march was mere preparation for collective time on this planet.
And to some extent that is true: the advancements of today stand on the shoulders of the accomplishments of the past. In other aspects, though, collectively we are merely muddling our way through our human experience the same way us humans have done since time immemorial. We still squabble amongst ourselves and fight wars and tend to act in our own self-interest. We refuse to head the lessons of the past and if there is a supreme being, he is probably looking down on us and shaking his head.
…there have always been times like these.
It’s the same for us as individuals: we are not fighting any new battles, not facing any obstacles no one else hasn’t been obliged to face. Every day food, clothing and shelter must be earned, physical and mental battles must be overcome and all of us have hearts that are telling us where to go and instincts that are telling us how to get there.
The good news is that, like everyone else who has preceded us, each day brings 24 fresh hours for us to make something good happen for ourselves. While the struggles that attend everyday life are acknowledged, our obligation is to overcome them and not them overcome us. Dreams must be chased, too. We must listen to where our hearts are telling us to go.
The Thought for the Day runs regularly. Gaylon began stockpiling quotes in 1988.
