True North

Thoughts to Drive Focus in 2025

Every person has value.

Every person should be treated fairly.

Every person should have opportunity to grow.

That’s my true north. Those three statements inform every decision I make. If what I am doing impacts one of those three things in a negative way, should I be doing it? The answer is no. Am I perfect following them? No. But dammit, I’m working on it. And when I’ve found I’ve lost my way, I always work to return to that spot on the compass.

But what about compromise and finding common ground with others?

If it violates one of those three elements, no. If it doesn’t, we can talk, because now the differences don’t harm what should be core values for all of us.

Let’s pause there for a moment. Why do I say they should be core values for us all? My true north is rooted in empathy for others, for looking beyond just looking out for myself and seeing the humanity and value in others. That’s what I’ve heard people talk about believing, so I thought they would be universal enough that LOTS of people would be fully on board with those sentiments. I really thought my true north was what most people would follow (and not just give lip service to) without it even having to be said. Yet sadly, I’m seeing so many people, including many I’ve respected in the past, in office and out of office, who have decided to give in to the authoritarian leadership that has overtaken every level of our country, which is in direct opposition to what I hold as true north.

When you support those who will take away rights from others, demean and de-humanized those who are different, and make it harder for people to find their way in life, you are part of the problem.

When you look at the options and they are all bad, and either path will violate true north, don’t go with the least bad. Work in opposition every step of the way, rallying others to your banner. You may lose a fight. You may lose a lot of them. But you will know you are standing for something, and as others see it, they will start to stand for something too. That’s how you begin a movement.

This country didn’t start with political parties, but they quickly became rallying points, a shorthand for what a group stands for. A demonstrated true north resonates with people, pulls them in, gets them excited, gets them to the polls. We just saw what the lack of a true north, or at least the perceived hypocrisy of ignoring that true north over time does. It creates apathy and the belief that it doesn’t really matter. Both sides. Want to win? Quit compromising on what you say you believe in.

Some might say this stance is trying to be Holier than thou (even though there is nothing religious about it), or being super self-righteous. Bullshit. It’s having a moral compass and sticking to it, rather than playing political games with people’s lives and choosing to sell certain people out because they aren’t as valuable in our society. I’m not going to do it.

There are some who talk really good game, who tell you how pious or progressive they might be. But when it looks like it might get hard, when they might lose friends, relationships, POWER, they bend the knee and go along with the same old routine we’ve seen in America over and over.

As a country, we really are at a tipping point. There isn’t going to be someone riding in on a white horse to save any of us. If we want change, it is up to We The People to use our power and our voices to force something different in this country, in our parties, in our communities. We are at a moment where everyone should look in the mirror and ask “What is my True North?” and then not waver from it.

I’ve told you mine.

See It. Name It. Fight It.