With half of Americans elated and the other half profoundly disappointed in the outcome of the election, where do we go from here? After so much divisive rhetoric, how do we move forward productively?
The same way we always have – one day, one person, one action, one word, one step at a time.
We will see the sun rise and set every day. The waves of the ocean will ebb and flow with predictable simplicity, just like they always have. We will have gratitude for experiencing another day on this beautiful planet.
We will lace up our shoes, go for a long jog or workout at the gym. We will push ourselves to be faster or lift heavier than we did last week for the good of our mental and physical health.
We will walk our dogs and appreciate their sloppy kisses and unconditional love at the end of a hard day.
We will clean our houses and do our laundry and take our kids to school and a million other places. We will help with homework and teach our teenagers to drive.
We will go to work and do our jobs. We will go to classes and learn from mentors to better ourselves.
We will make a new recipe and eat dinner with our loved ones. We will talk about our day and how to make the next one better.
We will decorate for the holidays and carry on family traditions.
We will read, hike, bike, camp, play, sing, dance, climb, ski, or do whatever else fills us up.
We will go on dates and seek love and friendships that enrich our lives. We will meet a friend for coffee or a concert, or see the latest movie that makes us think or cry or laugh out loud. We will mourn a breakup or loss, but realize how strong we really are when we finally get through it.
We will worship and pray together. We will feed the hungry and serve others in need as we always have. Our worth will be measured in large part by those we connect with and help.
We will celebrate successes and learn from challenges, recognizing the value in them all.
We will do life together – sometimes in harmony and sometimes in conflict – but striving to make the world just a little bit better for the next person or generation. We will talk to each other respectfully and understand that others with a different opinion can still be decent people.
For this is how real change happens. Even when we don’t all agree. Even when we can’t see clearly the full scope of the journey. We don’t settle. We fight for what we believe in. We put one foot in front of the other and keep trying to do what is right and good every day. Because that is where we find true meaning and fulfillment. That is who we are.
And if we keep at it, regardless of who occupies the White House or walks the halls of Congress at any given moment in our democracy, we’re all going to be ok.
