In August I finished the book What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to the West Wing, Its Cast and Crew and Its Enduring Legacy of Service, by Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack. I’m a fan of West Wing, and have set out to re-watch the entire series, though I’m not sure if I yet qualify as a “Wingnut.”

Also in August I was caught up in the optimism of the Democratic National Convention, and the sudden and surprising ascension of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to the helm of the party and possibly, ultimately, of the nation. Regardless of one’s political preferences, it’s hard to deny that the tone of the Presidential race has shifted dramatically over the last two months. Immersing myself in the West Wing and watching this positive political shift also re-kindled in me a sense of purpose and mission around leadership.

Now that we’re past Labor Day, as a resident of the “village” that we call the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia), I am re-inspired to embrace the drama that will unfold in coming months. It’s time to engage, to network, to promote new ideas and look to the future. In the context of this wave, with the backdrop of the West Wing, three themes have emerged:

1.  There’s still hope.

I’d been kind of discouraged around prospects for the fall. Kamala Harris has emerged as a joyful warrior, injecting new energy into the campaign. We no longer have to buy into the dystopian vision that society is crumbling around us and that our political structure will never offer new opportunities for change. We can believe in democracy and its promises again.  

2. New leaders are emerging.

Earlier this year the presidential race seemed to be another run of “Groundhog Day” – with the same opponents, both older white men, hurling insults at each other and stoking the same churning anxiety that we felt four years ago. Suddenly we have Kamala – and Tim Walz’s presence also energizes.

3. Do something.

Michelle Obama’s challenge to the DNC and to the country was a call to shake our common paralysis and take steps to move our democracy forward. Nothing is guaranteed, we all need to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

As a leadership coach, I’ve taken note of elements of public leadership I haven’t seen for a while. Central among those elements is a new sense of vision. True, our current President has accomplished a great deal and kept us on a steady path, but up until now it looked as though in the coming year we would face, once again, the threat of extremist populism. For now, at least, we have a moment. We have a moment in which we can hope and look toward new leadership and a brighter future.