'I Think This Country Needs More Spunk': 8-Year-Old's Advice To Obama Goes Viral

8-year-old’s advice to Obama is both wise and adorable

There’s no doubt we’re living in tumultuous times. This year’s election is beyond divisive. Headlines about gun violence and terrorism dominate our news-feeds and it’s that reality that motivated a wise little girl to write a letter to President Obama with some solid suggestions for how we could improve the state of our union.

And the best part? He answered her.

The White House’s Facebook and Medium accounts posted a letter from 8-year-old Lily to our Commander-in-chief. She has some concerns, but she also took the time to tell him a little about herself. It is pretty much the cutest letter of all time.

She opens with her thoughts on America’s current woes saying, “I think this country needs more spunk. With all the attacks, the Zika virus, and the wars, this country is a very sad place.”

Preach it, Lily.

Her first suggestion is for the president to “wear a tie-dye shirt and shorts to something important” but also offers up travel ideas such as water-skiing in the Caribbean or taking his family to Disney. She encourages him to do something “fun and outgoing” while imploring him to “say something that will make everyone calm” because, “you do know know how many politics worries I have.”

Kid, you are not alone there. 2016 has been a year for the ages and most of us are definitely a little worried.

She congratulates him on eight years in office saying she’s his biggest fan. She also shares that her father is in the Air Force and that his service inspired her to “have my back up job be President.” Her first choice is a cardiovascular surgeon and this little girl officially has more goals than I’ve had in 34 years of life.

In closing, she urges him to “keep running the country” and thanks him for being “such an inspiration.”

In an official letter of response, President Obama addressed Lily’s worries starting with her request for a fun wardrobe switch-up. He writes, “I don’t know how the First Lady or my daughters would feel about me wearing a tie-dye shirt in public,” but assures her that “one of my greatest responsibilities as President is ensuring your generation can thrive — and that includes making sure you can live in safety and reach for boundless opportunity.”

He acknowledges the state of the world is currently “worrisome” but says it’s young people like Lily who can “keep speaking out about important challenges our Nation faces.” He promises her that as president and even after his term is over, he’ll keep working to ensure that kids are only limited by “the scope of their imaginations and the size of their dreams.”

Obama thanks Lily for her advice and her dad for his service and tells her that no matter where her dreams take her, to “always remember that you have a big role to play in shaping the world and making a difference in people’s lives.”

He closes telling her he expects “great things” from her, and he’s not alone there. This girl is definitely going places.

Sometimes, it takes the simple, heartfelt words of a child to stop us in our tracks and help us see clearly. She might not know the ins and outs of current events, but she catches enough to understand that the world is a bit scary right now and she wanted a little reassurance. Like all of us.

Lily for president in 2044, anyone?