A week has come and gone since America decided who the next President of the United States will be come January of 2017, and I must say it has been a long seven days tainted with the aftermath of a brutal battle. Each day has been littered with hateful words, teeming with feelings of resentment, and filled with a misplaced sense of triumph and loss from both sides.

Have Your Voice Heard: Become an Odyssey Creator

But what have we won or lost here? Does the sense of victory you feel having voted for Donald Trump or the sadness from a lost vote for Hillary Clinton have any place or purpose?

No, it does not.

We are ONE NATION. We are a democracy devoted to the good of the common citizen in a country built off of the idea that anyone is welcome and can achieve their dreams here. We are supposed to be not only accepting of, but devoted to the concepts of tolerance and genuine celebration of those who are different than us. After all, that is what makes our country so great.

So the separation that has come to exist and flourish due to this election is not only misguided, but is also completely against everything that we are supposed to stand for as citizens of the greatest country in the world.

I am in no way saying that I understand or condone the tactics and demeanor of our president elect; as a female minority with extremely progressive social ideals I am personally disgruntled by many of the statements and comments made throughout his campaign in reference to various different groups of people.

However, I am lucky enough to be a citizen of this country. I have family who has served and sisters who have chosen the military path. I have reaped the benefits of living in a society of so many freedoms and have been blessed to live here and have a wonderful life.

So this is what I choose to focus on--these wonderful things that I have been surrounded by my entire life.

I refuse to let our new president tear me down. I refuse to let our new president tear us apart. I refuse to let this man continue to pull the hate out of reasonable people and use it to further his career goals. But most of all, I refuse to compromise my character and succumb to the negativity that is the driving force of the incredible division we are facing.

I know who I am and I know who I surround myself with. I have faith in us--faith in the idea that as American citizens we realize our privilege or disadvantages and have enough empathy to consider those who are different than us. I know in my heart that although it may be hard right now, we will rise above all of this and continue on as a nation of love.

So here are my final thoughts on this fantastic ordeal: spread love to all people, practice acceptance in every aspect of your life, and absolutely stay true to yourself.

We are only as great as our weakest link. So as long as we all keep our heads high and continue to pursue the ideals our country stands for, I truly believe we will make it through this.