Thoughts on autumn, a season of hope.

The K2 expedition of 1953 was a lesson in teamwork and courage, and hold many messages for us to draw upon today.

We Americans - and, indeed, all humans - have more in common that we recognize. If we can seek out commonality rather than division, we can sow the seeds of unity and understanding.

Fear. We can let it consume us with certainty of failure — and failure we become — or we can turn it into focus, walk across that ladder, and embrace all we can be, all we want to be.