"Democracy doesn't work without empathy. If we can't see each other as neighbors rather than adversaries, we're in trouble."
In all of this uncertainty while all of the votes are being counted and with how close the results are, I find myself waffling erratically this morning between despair and hope. My way of coping with stress like this is usually to try to wrangle together some sort of perspective to help keep me moving forward.
Personally, it's critical for me to remember the humanity of all people regardless of their views or their votes. I try to believe that most people make choices that they think are best for themselves and their families. They want a good life and will do what they think will give them that life. I can't look at this morning's 50/50 split and immediately jump to and dwell on "half the country hates me." That perspective is unsurmountable.
I think about the role of shame and ridicule and what it has wrought over the last 4 years. I think about friendships and families that have cracked and split over that same time. I'm reflecting on an ever-widening gap between us and those "on the other side." I have to prepare myself for any outcome. I have to decide how I react to these events I have no control over. I have to determine the person I want to be every step of the way.
I've always sought peace in my life – to be one who unites. I try to see the good in people and the love they are capable of. In a Trump re-election, I'll still strive to be that person. In a Biden administration, I'll also need to work for my values.
These are my own personal reflections–a self-imposed narrative that I'm choosing to help me cope with an uncertain future. Everyone has their own way of dealing and I guess what I hope for anyone reading this is that you allow yourself the space to decide for yourself how you want to *be* in this moment and the even more difficult moments that are bound to follow. Don't let the frenzy of the media or your feeds dictate your outlook. Allow yourself control of your mind, your perspective, and your actions, and let that be your freedom.