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Hope 2026 is getting off to a positive start for you. Things are looking up for me, and it’s been a long time in the making. Maybe hard work really does pay off. I grew up believing I lived in a meritocracy and a democracy. Eventually I realized our political landscape is more of an oligarchy and that merit often gets you only so far in a world of compound interest. Some of us earn our success late in the game, but better late than never.

Keep believing in yourself. If you may have hurt someone, make it better. I do this whenever I fail to act perfectly, which we all do at times. Have faith that you will prevail when you know you did nothing wrong, like my overall situation the past 7 years. In the words of Winston Churchill, NEVER GIVE UP.

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