2016 Flashbacks...Where Do We Go From Here?

In 2016, I was watching the election results get returned at the same time I was battling an abscessed, cracked wisdom tooth. The pain was intense. When the night was over, I was determined to get more involved in fighting for our country, especially for those who cannot fight for themselves. I was determined to work on initiatives to reduce bias of all types, increase the health and safety for all, and support returning to a time when politicians could reach across the aisle and find compromise. With every election since then, I have tried to carry this forward and in between I have worked at the community, state, and national level to meet my personal promise to myself.

Tonight, I was ever hopeful the majority of the country would vote for democracy, protect the philosophy of democracy, and move the country back to a time when we believed in country over party. We have had some really hard times in this country since we were formed in 1776. We always bounce back to democracy. Can we this time? YES, we can!

There are two songs on my Beat Cancer playlist that seem salient in this moment. Matchbox Twenty's These Hard Times says the following:

Everyone keeps talking
They promise you everything
But they don't mean anything

 

We may lose our focus
There's just too many words
We're never meant to learn
And we don't feel so alive

 

Say goodbye, these days are gone
And we can't keep holding on
When all we need is some relief
Through these hard times
Through these hard times

 

We have the ability to say goodbye to things we do not like by not accepting them and moving forward to what we know is right. We know that is right to be a gracious winner and loser. We know that it is right to follow the laws and rules set forth. We know that is right to allow equal social opportunities and equal protection under the law, regardless of race, religion, or other personal characteristics. We know that it is right to respect differing opinions. We know that it is right to feel safe at school, religious services, community events, business, and in our homes. We know this. Now it is time to let go of this current state of American and get some relief from these hard times. It is time to say no to violence, disregarding the law, and ignoring the ethical and common decency rules. 

 

As I close the night and put the 2022 election in the rear view mirror, I think it is critical to realize that these races were close. People showed up and said days of accepting anything just because is starting to shift, which is important. There are good candidates in all of the parties and we need to support those candidates who believe in democracy.

 

As Keb' Mo's Theme from B Positive says:

The more you give (the more you give)
The more you live (the more you live)
And your happiness (happiness)
Is relative (but if you're...)
And if you're feeling like crap
It's time to face the fact
It's your prerogative (your prerogative)
To be positive

 

For me, the first step will be choosing to remain ever hopeful. This certainly is not what I was hoping for. It is easy to see this as a loss. And do not get me wrong, I am scared for what the results mean. But I know that as quick as someone can win and be successful, the next cycle it can change. This is a continued trend in our country of passing the baton back and forth. At the same time, I am excited about some of the historic results across the nation. This is what fuels my fire. I am going to try very hard to do what I can to keep fighting the fight. I refuse to give up on the true American dream. Author Delatorro McNeal suggests starting each day with a moment of gratitude. He compares life to driving a motorcycle, which only moves forward and uses side mirrors (not rear view mirrors) to guide decisions. He says by starting your day with gratitude, it puts you in a positive frame of mind. I think this is excellent advice to internalize. 

 

I figure at this point, I am fighting for so many things why not add democracy to the list.

For tonight . . . I'm just sayin' XOXO