The presidential election last Tuesday left millions, including myself, questioning what our country has come to. It left me feeling sad, sick, and a little betrayed by my fellow Americans. It made me wonder about the direction of our great nation. And, to be perfectly honest, it made me weep.
But that was last week. Today, I am coming to terms with the truth about what our future is and what our world is going to be. Today, I am remembering all the ways that I am powerful; all the ways I can make a difference; all the ways that I matter. Today, and everyday from now on, I have ten reasons to be optimistic, and so do you:
1. We voted.
For all the women and minorities out there who remember stories of our ancestors being denied their right, we have one very special thing to be proud of: we voted. We were granted an amazing right lost to so many before us and we damn well better have exercised it! I know I did, and I'm optimistic that so many others did, too.
2. We still care.
Look at the massive support that has flooded the LGBT community, the Latinos and African Americans, the Muslims, and the women everywhere. Despite the heartbreaking loss all of these people felt waking up Wednesday morning, so many of us still care. We have to keep looking toward those people who are still fighting for us and with us.
3. We have power.
Sure, Trump's presidency is 4 years. Sure, he'll be in the White House until 2020. But what about the House? The Senate? We have races coming up as early as 2018 where we, the people, have the power to kick out the Republicans who don't take it upon themselves to stand up for us and keep Trump in check. If they fail us, we replace them. We have that power and they can't take it from us.
4. We have each other.
Similar to Reason #2, we still have each other. Most of the people we love and trust voted in our favor. We as a nation are not built from the voice of one man, but the voice of many. And many are speaking up for one another and coming together. Donald Trump may be Commander-in-Chief, but we are in command of our lives and our own struggles, and we still have each other to lean on.
5. We have lost battles before.
Change doesn't happen overnight. Women, LGBT, and minorities didn't ask for their rights and then receive them. They didn't just wake up one day and win. They fought long and hard; and many times, they lost. But each small battle was another step closer to freedom. And clearly, their fight isn't over. So we may weep now, and wonder why; or we can get up, lace up our boots, and get back out there. The world will move on with or without us. We are the ones who have to keep the fight alive.
6. We have our children.
Much of this election is not about us, but the children we have to face when trying to explain the rules of right and wrong; of love and acceptance; of hate and bigotry. They look up to us and they expect us to have the answers. And while many of you feel at a loss for words, don't. Kids are the most hopeful, kind, pure, innocent, impressionable creatures to ever walk this planet and they will listen when you speak. Remind them of their value and their influence, and tell them to keep fighting. THEY WILL LISTEN. We just have to talk.
7. We know we matter.
The minute we start doubting our self-worth is the minute we truly lose. We know in our hearts that we still matter, all of us. We know that Trump's presidency has exposed some of the ugliness in the world, but we also know it has not changed what is embedded deep inside all of us: we matter. Whether you went Republican, Democrat, or third party, your voice mattered. Don't stop letting it count.
8. We have a reason to talk.
Before Trump, we all pretended like the core principles of his campaign (racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, etc.) didn't exist. I'm not trying to accuse his supporters of the hate the media has accredited Trump with. I am pointing out that his campaign has opened up doors that have been firmly shut for too long. Race, sex, class, gender, sexual orientation, and religion have been at the forefront of this election, and it's about time we started having real conversations about them. It's time we used this as a reason to foster discussion about these very real problems, not tightly fasten the door shut again.
9. We went blue.
Millennials all across the country turned the map blue. We voted overwhelmingly Democratic, and we are the future. Before we know it, we will see our map -- the one of change, acceptance, hope and prosperity -- as the one deciding the presidency. Our beautiful blue map will one day light up not only our country but also our lives. We are the future and WE WENT BLUE. We can and will be the change we want to see. We just have to keep believing we are. We have to keep the optimism alive.
10. We are still America.
No, we're not perfect. And yes, we are going through a very divisive, difficult period. But this is still America, and it's still a country I am proud to call home. It is a country who gave my family hope and opportunity. It is a country who gave my fellow women a voice. It is a country that has fought time and time again for everything it believes in. Yeah, we have a lot to do; but haven't we always? We have worked harder and longer and stronger than ever thought we would have to; and we're not gonna stop now. Because that's what America is all about: fight. So that's what we're gonna do.
