Hey all!  Gretchen here.

I've been thinking a lot about the spirit and momentum that has sparked the hopes and imaginations of so many in this country.  As Barack Obama is set to take office, I wonder what will come of that spirit and momentum.

Certainly, Barack Obama's intelligence and eloquence have sparked this shift.  More than this, though, is his belief in us.  He reminds us that we all matter.  We all have a role to play in moving our country away from the fear and disillusionment of the past 8 years and toward a future that reflects our goodness as a people. It is my great hope that people will embrace this vision, not just in theory but in practice as well. 

We are all a necessary part of this change and we are all accountable for the results.

This brings to mind a piece I read a couple of months ago in Ode magazine (it's true: I adore this magazine).  Frances Moore Lappe contends that we don't need more compassion and cooperation (we've got lots of both hardwired into us).  What we need is courage.  In 'cultivating gutsiness', we put actions behind our best intentions and make them real.

There's a great new video out there with celebrities offering up all kinds of gutsy pledges for what they will do in the upcoming days, months, and years--from smiling more to using less plastic to pledging allegiance to the funk (thank you Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers)--to bring about a better country and world.

How gutsy are you?  How will you cultivate your courage?

And, what's your pledge?