We Used to Do Hard Things
by Tony Retrosi
I’ve never been more frustrated.
We live in a country of abundance.
A state of abundance.
A city with a relative wealth of resources.
We Used to Be Bold
We used to be a nation that did hard things.
We took bold steps. We made difficult choices.
In the 1960s, we pointed at the moon and said, “We’re going there.”
And we did.
Now?
We’re paralyzed.
By fear of change.
Fear of each other.
Fear of anything that looks different or makes us uncomfortable.
Too many politicians feed that fear—
Because it’s easier to scare us than to lead us.
We Have the Tools. So Why Not the Will?
What used to be science fiction is now fact.
We can build a better future.
We could already be leading the way in green energy.
We could already be shaping a world where peace is more profitable than war.
Instead:
- We have more empty houses than unhoused people.
- More food than we can eat—yet children still go to bed hungry.
- Medical technology that can save lives—but insurers decide who lives and who doesn’t.
- Masked agents detaining people in our streets simply because they are brown.
This Is Not a Resource Problem
This is a will problem.
When was the last time we did something truly great?
Not something performative.
Not a shiny press conference.
Not a temporary fix.
Something great.
Something that required:
- Sacrifice
- Vision
- Unity
Something that made life better—not just for some, but for all.
That Was Generations Ago… Or Was It?
Was it landing on the moon?
Passing the Civil Rights Act?
Creating Social Security?
Building the interstate highway system?
Those were generations ago.
But that doesn’t mean we’ve stopped doing hard things.
You just have to look a little closer:
- Scientists developed a global COVID-19 vaccine in record time.
- Climate activists are fighting pipelines and planting forests.
- Underpaid teachers are showing up for forgotten kids.
- Young organizers are pushing for racial and gender justice.
- Workers are unionizing despite corporate pushback.
- Communities are creating mutual aid networks when institutions fail.
These are today’s moonshots.
They’re happening now.
And they matter.
So I’ll Ask You:
What’s your moonshot?
What sacrifice will you make?
What fear will you stop feeding?
Do Something That Matters
We can’t paint over rot and call it progress.
We can’t slap a slogan on a problem and pretend it’s solved.
We need courage.
We need imagination.
We need to stop waiting for permission to do the right thing.
It’s time to stop being afraid.
To stop being small.
To stop being silent when we should be loud.
Do something.
Something you’ll be proud of.
Not just a fresh coat of paint—
But a foundation rebuilt with purpose.
Be inspired.
Inspire others.