I'm writing this before the election, so just fill in the blanks as necessary.

Wow.

This has been some wild ride, huh? Finally glad it's over?

I mean, I can't believe that <CANDIDATE> actually won. We knew there was a shot right? The polls indicated that it was possible, but I'm just in awe.

You're probably feeling a lot of emotions about <CANDIDATE> winning right now, but you're also wondering about the other half of the country. You know. Them. I'm not sure how they stood behind <CANDIDATE> this entire race either, but let's be real. You've always been above the average in this country. Despite the fact that <CANDIDATE> had a few controversies during their campaign, least of which criminal investigations, your friends stood by them, ready to come to their aid on every single facebook comment thread.

You weren't completely free either. I know you spent some heated debates in the comment section, but that's only because <CANDIDATE> was clearly a better choice, and you weren't sure how <OTHER CANDIDATE> was even still running at this point.

So what do we do now?

Either way, about half the country, mind you that's roughly 150 million people, are upset by this; you may be one of them. We cannot just ignore the issues that this election has surfaced (Election of 1860 ring a bell?). <CANDIDATE> will be able to appoint Supreme Court Justices, and since the Senate is leaning <CHOOSE COLOR THAT MIXES TO MAKE PURPLE> this could be a very interesting year. Not to mention that the House majority is in the <CHOOSE COLOR THAT MIXES TO MAKE PURPLE>, as well.

More than anything, this next year and these next four years will be crucial to healing the country. Not on the generic problem-solving issues each Presidential candidate wants to "fix," but on actually changing the hearts and minds of the American people. Of becoming empathetic to those who disagree with us, and reexamining how we value human life. I don't think that <CANDIDATE> was the best choice for this job, but neither was <OTHER CANDIDATE>. We can't expect this problem to be fixed solely by those we elect.

While they play a part in the system, at the end of the day we have to decide if we want to put in the work to unify this country, or just amble along for another four years. If we do the latter, this election cycle will serve as a blueprint for the future.

<CANDIDATE> won. <OTHER CANDIDATE> lost. It's over; now we have to get to work.