There is a silent storm brewing in America — one that hit a fever pitch when news spread that the federal government might terminate SNAP benefits on November 1st. For millions of families, that threat was not just political theater; it was a gut-wrenching reality. Imagine being a furloughed federal worker who has not seen a paycheck in months. Unfortunately, I do not have to imagine. I experienced several furloughs and then subsequently a layoff shortly after the new administration was in place.

Imagine a parent standing in a grocery aisle calculating which child gets milk this week. Now imagine hearing that even the small safety net you have been holding onto might disappear overnight. When survival becomes negotiable, desperation takes the wheel. The line between civility and chaos blurs when a mother has to choose between hunger and handcuffs. That is not a moral failure — it is a systemic one.

The Mindset Shift

Worry and anxiety, when left unchecked, can consume. They can also awaken. Anxiety tells us something is deeply wrong — not just personally, but collectively. The key is learning to channel that energy not into panic, but into purpose. When we stop asking, “Why is this happening to me?” and start asking, “What can we do together?” — that is where transformation begins.

We have to rethink what security means. It is not about how much is in our bank account or how stable our paycheck feels — those things can vanish overnight. True security is community. It is the neighbor who shares a meal, the church pantry that quietly restocks shelves, the grassroots organizer who refuses to accept that hunger is “just how things are.”

The Power of Us

I posted recently about how grassroots movements changed history — from women’s suffrage to civil rights. None of those victories started in Congress. They started with people who were tired of being told to wait. People who looked at their communities and said, “If no one else will fix it, we will.”

That spirit is needed again. There are counties across this nation quietly depending on SNAP, hidden behind statistics and pride. When benefits disappear, those counties don’t just lose food — they lose stability. When food deserts already exist, the consequences are devastating. However, community can be the counterweight.

We can be the light in the dark. That looks like organizing food drives before a crisis, supporting local growers, teaching children how to garden, creating co-ops that share resources, or simply checking in on someone who might be struggling in silence.

Redefining Comfort

Perhaps the most significant mindset shift is learning to let go of what we thought comfort was. We have been conditioned to equate success with accumulation — titles, money, possessions. But the more we cling to that illusion, the less resilient we become.

Now is the time to redefine wealth — not as “what I have,” but as “who I can help.” We may have to live smaller to live stronger. We may have to adjust lifestyles, budgets, and even priorities. That is not regression; that is evolution. It teaches our children that legacy is not a luxury. It is about compassion, collaboration, and community care.

Hope Is Still Ours

When systems falter and leaders disappoint, it is easy to lose hope. Remember, though, hope is not given. Hope is built. Every meal shared, every neighbor helped, every local effort counts. We cannot wait for the cavalry. You need to know that we are the cavalry.

So while the headlines remind us of what is broken, let us remind each other of what is unbreakable — the human spirit when it is rooted in love, unity, and faith. If we stand together, we can outlast any policy, any administration, any storm.

Because real power? It is not in Washington. It is in us.

On the ground,

Coach Erika