Being a Calming Force in Chaotic Times

This is an unusual post for me- I am not a political person, nor is this a political post. This is a call for calm in a time of turbulence. We can choose to calm things down, or we can choose to ratchet things up.

In light of all the turbulence of our current election, social unrest, and also the pandemic- whatever your politics- and I truly don't care what they are- we can make a choice. What I know for sure in these highly polarized times, we are a nation divided in our views.

Whether the decision is made tonight, tomorrow, this week or next, when the votes are counted and the race is called, half of our country is going to be upset, depressed and feel disenfranchised by the decision.

But....here's something we can ALL do. Be kind, be empathetic, and understand that others who do not share your beliefs are angry and upset because their side didn't win. Do you want to gloat and be condescending adding fuel to the fire? Or can you get out of your own head and try to understand that the other person has strong feelings and opinions about this country that we all love?

When our country was attacked on September 11th, American's didn't say "Well, that's too bad for those New Yorkers..they are Democrats." No, we joined hands and we circled our American brothers and sisters in prayer, we sent money, food, and many people went to NYC to help the first responders through the crisis. During that crisis, we were all Americans. Yesterday, we all exercised the most beautiful thing we have in our democracy: we exercised our constitutional right to vote.

Who do you want to be when this is decided? Someone who throws gasoline on the flames or someone who is a voice of calm and reconciliation? Either way, you get to choose.