The summer of 1948, only three years upon assuming the office of president with Franklin Roosevelt’s death, President Harry S. Truman was in a political battle for The White House against Thomas E. Dewey and while shouldering the weight of the post-war world, he was also bearing tremendous weight that ridiculed his typical practicality and confidence.

In her biography celebrating her father, Margaret Truman Daniel, noted a:

“If it were not for the world situation and my lack of confidence in the presidential candidates I throw the whole works out the window and go home and stay there. But I can’t run from responsibility as you know.”

Fortunately, Harry Truman’s personal Missouri compromise to finish the job, won over.

Our own problems, real or imagined, that weigh us down may not seem as towering as President Truman’s, but comparing the weight or severity of our problems against another’s is pointless. Our problems are ours with which to deal and the problems of others are theirs with which to contend.

The hope is that we’re each staring our responsibilities dead on and charging forward, and never backing down even when more items are added to the load.

How neat it would be, for me, to have a pick-me-up chat with President Truman and hearing, “Son, we’ve all been dealt our own pile of manure with which we must deal. Grab your shovel and start clearing the path. I’ve done so many times. Just roll your sleeves up, first.”

Let’s roll up our sleeves, shovel away the shit, and make it a great day.