In a constant barrage of distractions, it is comforting to fall back on the enduring truths that have guided many of us through turbulent times. I was taught early in life that you are what you think. Our thoughts shape our character and reveal the sincerity of our hearts. They form the foundation for accountability and personal responsibility, influencing what we do but who we become.
James Allen, in his 1903 work As a Man Thinketh, emphasized that a person’s thoughts directly shape their character and circumstances. He likened thoughts to seeds planted in a garden – what you cultivate will grow. Nurturing positive thoughts leads to positive outcomes in life, while negative thinking can yield harmful consequences. In other words, we truly are what we think.
It is distressing to see the growing data on anxiety and depression among our youth. Life inevitably brings low moments, some due to circumstances within our control, others beyond it. Yet how we respond to these challenges varies from person to person. Our thoughts and mindset play a vital role in shaping the response.
Watching protests erupt on college campuses leaves one to wonder what is truly being taught to our students. The level of destruction and the vile, often hateful rhetoric coming from the mouths of some students is deeply troubling. It raises serious questions about the influence of those in positions of authority in their lives; professors, administrators, and mentors, many of whom themselves may be driven by unresolved anger, self-doubt, or even self-hatred. When such internal turmoil goes unchecked, it can easily take root in the thought processes of the young minds they influence.
When is it ever acceptable to impose your personal discord and unhappiness onto others, especially the young and impressionable? The answer is simple: it’s not. Yet that is exactly what seems to be happening in too many educational spaces today. This makes it all the more urgent for parents to take a stand against those who continue to push harmful ideologies and teachings onto students. Young minds deserve guidance rooted in truth, resilience, and respect. And, not the weight of someone else’s unresolved anger or disillusionment.
This fall, we face another crucial election, one that will determine the direction of our state for years to come. On the ballot there are two very different visions for Virginia. One administration supports school choice, lower taxes, and less government interference in our daily lives. The other promotes late-term abortion, eliminates school choice, and pushes for transgender participation in women’s sports and spaces only to undermine the hard-won accomplishments of generations of women.
When examining both sides, the contrast in values and priorities becomes unmistakably clear. Personally, I will stand with truth and the vision that reflects the character and principles of our Founding Fathers upholding freedom, the sanctity of life, equality, and justice. The mindset and values of those we choose to place in positions of authority are critical to the success and future of our state.
