My guess is that you’re as ready as I am to get back to normal after an intense political season. But normal means seeing the same people at the gym, at work, and around the dinner table – including people we don’t always agree with.
So how do we move forward together?
When I started writing this, I didn’t know how things would turn out. But I knew we’d still have to do life alongside each other. And as I’ve said before, getting to do that is a privilege. Even when we disagree.
It’s not always easy to show up for people you don’t agree with, especially if they’re vocal about their opinions. But I’m still going to show up for a neighbor who needs me – not because they’re Democrat or Republican, but because they’re human.
I’ll still greet the trainer at my gym with a smile even though our politics fall on opposite sides of the spectrum, because he’s never shown me anything but kindness and respect. He works hard at his job and puts his kids and family first, just like a lot of other people I know.
I’m still going to be friends with people I sing with who may see things differently than I do, because we really enjoy making music together. There’s more than one way to create harmony.
I’ll still be social with parents of my kids’ friends and other moms and dads at the bus stop, even if we aren’t politically aligned, because helping my kids build stronger friendships – and showing them how to get along with others – is worth it to me.
I can still enjoy working with someone who doesn’t share my views if we keep it professional and are doing good things. And even if we don’t get along perfectly, that’s okay, too. We don’t have to be best friends to work well together.
I’ll do my best to hold on to long-time relationships with family members who don’t agree with me on everything. We might avoid certain topics when we see each other to keep the peace. But when you’ve shared as many family dinners and trips as we have – and sat together with a loved one as they took their last breaths – those relationships mean more than our politics. We can disagree on some issues and still love each other.
Not everyone will feel as close as family, but making the effort to get to know people is important. There’s an old saying in Washington that “you’ll never question your colleagues’ motives if you know the names of his or her children.” That’s as true for the rest of us as it is for politicians. Knowing someone and their family helps build trust. You may not agree with their views, but it’s harder to cast someone as the enemy when you realize how much of life you have in common.
Fighting for what you believe in matters, on Election Day and every day. But we can hold fast to our beliefs and still hold on to our relationships, even with people who disagree with us.
The pundits say there’s no hope for us to get along, but they’re wrong. We just have to make the effort to do it – one word, one action, one person at a time.
And now back to your regularly scheduled programming – school drop-off or the bus stop, work meetings, dinner with family. Everyday life we still get to share with people we don’t always agree with.
I’m going to keep showing up. I hope you do, too.
YOUR IMPACT THIS WEEK
Who’s someone you care about but don’t always agree with? Pick one small way to show up for them this week. Send a text, invite them for coffee, or help them with something.
You don’t have to settle your differences to let someone know you care. You can be the person who takes the first step.
Please share this post with your people and remember that the way you interact with others matters – even (and maybe especially) when you disagree.
(Photo/Thomas Dworzak-Magnum)
