Just last week, the world witnessed President-Elect Donald Trump snatch the White House from right under Hillary Clinton's nose. From the riots, protests and aggressive Facebook posts, it is clear that not everyone is satisfied with America's choice. In order to cope with our country's newest leader-to-be, we will be able to get through it with the five stages of grief.
The first stage is denial. Deny, deny, deny! Until January 21, 2017 (Inauguration Day), we can all just pretend Mr. Trump is never making it into the White House. It's also pretty hard for many people to wrap their head around the fact that our new president used to have his own reality TV show and has zero political experience. I've heard people questioning how this could happen and if this is real life. For now, we can just distract ourselves by looking at funny memes or by going to the pet store to play with puppies.
The next stage is anger. This is probably the most favored stage post-election. Of course, Americans have the right to be angry if the person in charge is not who they had hoped it would be. If you're feeling frustrated, irate, irritated, annoyed, hostile, or whatever you want to call it, I would definitely suggest a kickboxing class. Pretend the punching bag is your not-so beloved President-Elect to get you through this second stage of grief.
The third stage is bargaining. Reach out to others by asking them how they feel about this unusual election or even how they're dealing with it. The whole process has not been easy on anyone, so know that you are not alone. Together, we can figure out what Donald Trump being elected president will mean for America.
Depression follows the bargaining stage. As tough as it is, this stage is inevitable. Sadness will set in at some point when you realize your hopes and desires for the country may not be satisfied with the Donald. Counter your sadness with the only two men you will ever need in your life — Ben and Jerry. A pint of Half-Baked ice cream has never failed me before. I don't see why it shouldn't work now.
Finally, acceptance is soon to follow. You may not believe it now but at some point, the drama and tears succeeding the election will dissipate. All will be OK eventually ... even if it takes four years.
