Rising from the Ashes

A Message of Strength, Focus, and Hope this Weekend

To all those facing unimaginable loss and devastation from the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, please know that our heart aches with you. For thousands of families (across the economic spectrum), this is a time of profound pain, fear, and uncertainty—a time when it feels like everything you’ve built, everything you’ve known, has been stripped away. Moments like this remind us all that no matter how much material wealth we accumulate, external forces can wipe the balance sheet clean within a moment’s notice and bring us temporarily (or perpetually) to our primordial instincts.

In moments of crisis, our primordial instincts—those deep, ancient drives that have guided humanity since the dawn of time—take center stage. These instincts, like the fight-or-flight response, the drive for self-preservation, and the urge to protect loved ones, the craving for social bonding, and the avoidance of facing our deepest fears, are hardwired into our very being. They are a testament to our resilience …