On the back windshield of my car is a sticker that says "Cowgirl Up". I bought this sticker a few years ago because I liked the design, but also because the phrase is something I've heard many times growing up riding horses.
Today I thought about this sticker as I drove down the street surrounding my college's campus. Every once in a while my friends have teased me for the sticker and I laugh along and tell them that I think it adequately describes my driving technique and also apologizes for it at the same time. But, today I didn't think of those things. Today I thought of what it means to "cowgirl up". Then I thought of the election season.
Cowgirling up means getting back on when your house throws you off, not giving up after a bad rodeo, season, or even a bad year. Cowgirling up means to keep fighting, chasing your passions, following your dreams, and never giving in.
The election results devastated me. I never knew I could cry so much over a presidential election. I never knew that my country could choose a candidate that degraded women and appropriated rape culture over and over again. I didn't know that my country would choose a vice president that closed Planned Parenthoods (causing 150+ new cases of HIV) and funded "conversion therapy" for LGBTQ people. I did not know that a wealthy businessman could win a campaign filled with fear, hate, and intolerance. Every single minority group in the country is now heartbroken and fearful for their rights and their lives.
I am scared. I am heartbroken. I am in shock. But, I am also resilient. I have grieved, but it is no longer time for that. Now is the time to "Cowgirl up". I will climb back on the horse of a nation that bucked me off and I will fight. I'll tighten the reins, dig my heels down and push forward. The horse will fight back, but I will win.
I refuse to succumb to the fear, so I will walk down the streets with my head held high without fear of sexual assault. I will do all I can to support those who are immigrants or the children of immigrants. I will stand up for the LGBTQ community. I will protect my rights and every other woman's rights to their own reproductive health. I will stand by each African American when they are disrespected for the color of their skin. If you are Muslim, I will believe you when you say your religion is peaceful and share that message alongside you. If you are part of a minority group, I support you, I love you, and I care about you. I will use every platform I have to share this message. But most importantly, I will love, I will love, and I will love some more.
It's time for us to "cowgirl up". Be tough, be courageous, and be bold. Be each of these things with love in your heart. We have 4 years of this presidency. All of America must now work together. We are all in this together whether you voted for Trump, Hillary, or wrote in Harambe. Now is not the time to hate. Love your neighbor, even if they voted for someone different than you. All great cowgirls love their horses, no matter how many times they throw them off and all great citizens continue to love their neighbors after they vote against each other. Now is our time to show our resilience. Cowgirl up, America.
