This Isn’t New

Orchid repotting season has officially begun, and in the exotic orchid world, timing really is everything. You’re only supposed to repot when you see new roots just starting to grow; those tiny green tips are the signal to move. Too early, and the plant sulks. Too late, and the roots won’t settle in properly. Miss the window, and some orchids never forgive you. So when you see those little roots poking out, it’s go time. For me, it’s the most fun part of the orchid year. There are endless ways to pot them, from hanging baskets to clay pots to just about anything you can imagine.

Grammy went home this week, and our weather app said it was 0 degrees in Pittsburgh when she landed. I felt bad for her. She said everyone on the plane looked miserable, which feels about right. Still, we had a really great time while she was here; we watched a lot of Seinfeld, played lots of games, and spent a lot of time together. She has such a calming presence, and with my wife being so sick, it meant more than I can probably explain to have her around.

I’m not sure why, but after school, my son likes to put on his robe, walk barefoot around the pond at the bottom of our yard, and listen to music or talk to people. There’s something cool and self-assured about it that I really like. It’s a little unusual, but in the best way. Unique is cool. 

The world feels a little bit crazy right now, doesn't it? (when does it not?)

So I want to zoom out for a second.

Below are real periods of extreme uncertainty when headlines were terrifying, emotions were high, and the future felt unclear, and yet the stock market either held up or ultimately did just fine.


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Times the world felt "exceptionally crazy"… and markets survived anyway:

1. World War I (1914–1918)
The U.S. stock market actually shut down for months in 1914 to prevent panic selling. When it reopened, it rebounded sharply.

In 1915 alone, the Dow Jones rose over 80%, the largest one-year gain in its history. Yes, during a world war. Markets are weird like that.

2. World War II (1939-1945)
From the U.S. market bottom in 1942 (right in the middle of the war), the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by over 130% by the time the war ended in 1945.

3. Korean War (1950–1953)
Despite global tensions and the threat of escalation, the S&P 500 rose roughly 60% during the war.

4. Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (1963)
Markets closed early the day of the assassination. Panic was real.
Yet the S&P 500 finished 1963 up over 20%.

5. Vietnam War & Domestic Unrest (mid-1960s)
Between 1965 and 1968, during escalating war protests and social upheaval, the S&P 500 gained more than 50%.

6. Watergate Scandal (1972–1974)
This period was rough. The market fell sharply.
But after Nixon resigned in August 1974, the S&P 500 rebounded by over 37% in 1975. Recovery came faster than most expected.

8. Chornobyl Nuclear Disaster (1986)
Global fear was intense. Nuclear anxiety dominated headlines.
The S&P 500 still finished 1986 up nearly 19%.

9. Gulf War (1990–1991)
Markets fell in anticipation of war, then rebounded once uncertainty cleared.
In 1991, the S&P 500 rose around 30%.

10. Iraq War (2003)
Uncertainty dominated the lead-up. Once again, markets climbed the "wall of worry."

The S&P 500 rose nearly 29% in 2003.

11. COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)
This one we all remember. The S&P 500 fell 34% in just over a month, then rebounded sharply and finished the year up about 18%. In 2021, it was up 27%.

Since the very start of COVID, the markets have been up 128% to date.

All this simply means that reacting emotionally to "crazy" has historically been far more dangerous than staying disciplined through it.

As an aside, writing this article has been absolutely fascinating to me. The resilience of the markets is truly remarkable.

Be Blessed,

Dave