More Election Talk... I Know You're Thrilled

I have pretty much experienced aaaallll of the emotions these last couple of days.  Disbelief.  Fear.  Embarrassment.  Defensiveness.  Sorrow.  Pride.  Determination. 

It’s all been very overwhelming for someone who usually tries to stay out of politics.  I went back and forth about whether or not to post on this topic because a) social media and the internet are already oversaturated with millions of people’s opinions, and b) I usually try to keep this space positive and light-hearted… an escape from all of the negativity in the world.

However, I decided that continuing with my regularly scheduled programming would be a lie, and one thing that I’ve always promised to you is that I would be honest in this little space of mine.  My original post idea for today was not really what I’ve been feeling in my heart these last couple of days and it wouldn’t have been authentic for me to carry on as though none of this turmoil was going on all around us. 

So to keep my brain from exploding, I decided to discuss some random observations and thoughts today.

These last couple of days since the election several phrases have been dancing around in my mind nonstop…

Is this real life? 

Have I inadvertently stepped into the Twilight Zone? 

Maybe we’re just all being Punk’d?

Did we really just elect Donald Trump to be the 45th president of the United States of America??

Donald Trump??

Some random things weighing on my mind about this whole situation…

… Out of the millions of people in the United States, how in the world did we end up with these two candidates to choose from anyway?  How did we let it come to this?

… I am legitimately scared for our country.  With Hillary, at the very most, we would have had to worry about another bad four years with another less than stellar president, but with Donald, we actually have to worry about another bad four years plus we also have to worry about him saying something explosive and getting our entire nation into World War III.  It’s terrifying to think about.  Was it really the best idea to elect a president with such a volatile personality?  It is time to start praying.  Praying for guidance for our new leader.  Praying for support from our nation.  Praying for support from the rest of the world.

... Did I want to vote for Hillary?  Nope.  Did I think she would do the least damage?  Yep.

… Apparently, all you need to be the leader of the free world is to have a lot of money.  You don’t actually need to be qualified.  I’ve heard a lot of people say that it will be refreshing to have someone in office who has not been in politics because it will allow someone with a different perspective to come in and revamp American politics as we know them.  Well, in my humble opinion, allowing someone with zero experience (ie: Donald Trump) to be the leader of the United States of America is a lot like taking your kids to swimming lessons with an instructor who doesn’t know how to swim.  #YouShouldntDoIt 

… I wish that people would stop voting strictly in their party lines and vote for the actual candidate who they think will do the better job.  You don’t have to vote for the Democrat just because you tend to lean to the left and you don’t have to vote for the Republican just because you tend to lean toward the right.  Sometimes the candidate from the other party is more qualified and it’s okay to vote for them if that’s what your heart is telling you to do.

… I actually know several people who voted for Donald Trump (thinking he wouldn’t actually win) just to be able to say that they didn’t vote for Hillary when she won.  Well guys, the joke’s on you. 

… A part of me is a little relieved that Hillary wasn’t elected for POTUS, simply because of the fact that I’m hoping that the first woman president will be elected because she’s really great and because people really want her there… not because she’s the lesser of two evils.    

… America as a whole seems to have lost its moral compass and it’s disheartening.  The hatred on social media HAS TO STOP.  It’s one thing to voice your opinion, but it’s another to spew hate while doing it.  If you are one of those people, then you are part of the problem.  If you’re tearing everybody down, then you’re no better than they are.  It is now our job to be beacons of light in an otherwise dim situation.  And I’ll admit, that’s hard.  I have a tendency to be a Negative Nancy in times of struggle, but now is the time for us to rise above, support each other, and trust that the new administration has our best interests at heart.  I will try if you will.

… We have our work cut out for us as parents.  More than ever, we need to teach our kids kindness and humility.  We need to teach them compassion and tolerance.  We need to teach them that love and success have no color or race or creed.  We need to teach our kids that love is the most important thing of all. 

… Wouldn’t it be wonderful if electing Donald Trump turned out to be the very best thing ever?  What if the controversy caused all of us to band together to stand up for all of the things that we believe just to make up for his lack of morals?  What if it caused all of us to do something that actually makes a difference in the world?  What if change for the better actually happened because of this?  For every negative comment I’ve seen on Facebook, I’ve seen at least two positive ones.  That lets me know that there is still kindness in the world.  That allows me to believe that people are still mostly good.  And that means that if we all stand united, then we can do good things.  BIG things.  

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After some of this you might be thinking that I am judging you because you voted for Donald Trump.  Am I?  No. 

Am I accusing you of being racist or sexist because you voted for Donald Trump?  Absolutely not.

At the end of the day, I believe that political affiliation doesn’t determine the character of a person.  It's words and actions and how a person acts in times of despair that determine their character.  I’m sure that many of my extended family members voted for Trump, and I'm sure that some of you readers did as well, but that certainly doesn’t mean that I love you or respect you any less.  We all have the freedom to vote whichever way we want, and no matter how you voted, I respect your opinions.  And the fact that we have the right to do that... that is what makes America great. 

Finally, one more thing before I go –

To Mr. Trump,

I hope you prove me wrong. 

I PRAY you prove me wrong. 

Please PLEASE keep your promise to “Make America Great Again..."

… even though I already thought that it was pretty great to begin with.

*Linking up with Sparkles and Lattes for Confessional Thursday and Home of Malones for Thoughts for Thursday.