To the Pessimist

Maybe you're thinking: this is the end, the final season of the Netflix show "America," in which every episode is darker than the last until the grim finale. That your life's prospects have dimmed. What kind of lives will your children have?

You have been anxious for a whole year, as the most ugly and bizarre presidential campaign in memory trudged on. And now that it has culminated in catastrophe, you've slipped into despair and maybe rage. You may even be grappling with depression or an urge to be violent. I've heard mention of busy suicide hotlines and universities offering Trump-related grief counseling. I've seen videos of beatings, vandalism, and arson.

Serenity and peace be with you. Know this: you and you alone are the predominant factor in your life.