In his 2018 letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, Warren Buffett closed with a section called “The American Tailwind.” He described the simple but powerful idea that Americans are resilient and innovative—and that no matter what obstacles we face, we emerge stronger on the other side.

That positive perspective is refreshing in an era dominated by divisive headlines and partisan rhetoric. Buffett wrote:

“Our country’s almost unbelievable prosperity has been gained in a bipartisan manner. Since 1942, we have had seven Republican presidents and seven Democrats. In the years they served, the country contended at various times with a long period of viral inflation, a 21% prime rate, several controversial and costly wars, the resignation of a president, a pervasive collapse in home values, a paralyzing financial panic, and a host of other problems. All engendered scary headlines; all are now history.”

Since then, America has faced even more challenges—including a once-in-a-century global pandemic. And yet, the pattern Buffett described still holds: when you’re in the middle of a crisis, it feels unprecedented. But with time, resilience wins out. Life goes on, and so does the American economy.

Consider this: since Buffett wrote those words, the U.S. has become the clear world leader in generative AI, and the S&P 500 has delivered a return of more than 140%. The road wasn’t smooth—markets endured pullbacks, routs, corrections, and recessions—but the long-term trajectory has been undeniable.

Buffett’s conclusion to that letter still rings true today: “The major source of our gains will almost certainly be provided by The American Tailwind. We are lucky—gloriously lucky—to have that force at our back.”

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Josh Norris is an Investment Advisory Representative of LeFleur Financial. Josh can be reached at josh@lefleurfinancial.com.

Josh Norris, CPA, CFP, CFA is the managing member of LeFleur Financial, a wealth management and tax advisory firm.