Tears.

Pain.

Heartache.

Sorrow.

Worry.

Defeat.

Fear.

Disbelief.

As I sat on the couch last night sipping my evening cup of tea, I focused on my breath and the sound of the old beat-up heater working hard to provide warmth. It was producing a noise similar to that of an engine revving in the distance. My mind remained calm and the tension in my muscles subsided, providing my body with an overwhelmingly relaxing sensation. I felt tired - very tired. I was wrapped up in a soft blanket, which created the illusion of someone giving me a warm, constant hug. I felt at ease. This was a feeling that normally accompanied my evening cup of tea, but had been absent for the past week. It was as if I had finally found a safe space - a moment of peace, away from the pandemonium that had recently ensued.

Generally I do not participate in political arguments as everyone is rightfully entitled to their own beliefs and opinions. These past eight days were especially challenging as I have been internalizing my thoughts and bottling up various heightened emotions. I have been in a constant scatter-brained state, feeling uncontrollably disconnected from others, as well as my surroundings.

As time passed, I challenged myself to decipher why something this disheartening would happen. I soon realized that fully comprehending the reality of it all was merely impossible, and therefore I chose to see it through the eyes of an analogy. At first this seemed to be complete and utter nonsense, but as I meticulously dissected the idea, it helped to alleviate some of my pent up anger and frustration, while giving me the clarity to move forward.

It is as if the election were a big puzzle, and none of the pieces seemed to fit together as I mulled over the results in my head. Was it faulty by chance? Or just merely impossible to construct? It was unlike any puzzle I had previously encountered and after hours of scrupulous concentration, the pieces were coming together. Anxiety and fear pulsed through my body as it became more complete. More real. More frightening.

It was the furthest thing from a masterpiece. Women, people of color, and the LGBTQ community were being continuously marginalized, while inappropriate phrases, narcissistic comments, sexist remarks, and racist ideologies were quickly and uninvitingly presenting themselves, one after another. They were hurtful, inhumane, and undeniably ignorant.

“And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the p**sy. You can do anything."

“I have so many fabulous friends who happen to be gay, but I am a traditionalist."

"I’ve been treated very unfairly by this judge. Now, this judge is of Mexican heritage. I'm building a wall, OK? I'm building a wall."

"Women: You have to treat them like s**t."

“An ‘extremely credible source’ has called my office and told me that Barack Obama’s birth certificate is a fraud.”

“The beauty of me is that I’m very rich.”

This puzzle seemed unfair. So unfair that it brought me to tears. As the days passed by, this feeling of defeat began to subside and I was able to separate my thoughts from my emotions. It became apparent that morally I could not allow myself to finish the puzzle given the content it possessed. The political reform and equality that others had fought so hard to achieve in the past seemed to be thrown out the window as if they were no longer relevant. I could not fathom it.

As I scroll through various post-election articles and media blurbs, a similar pattern seems to emerge. People are blatantly sharing their opinions of Donald Trump, and their writing is overflowing with copious amounts of anger, frustration, and sorrow - or pure idolization, praise and admiration. Either way, both pose a challenge to our society.

If you are upset, I understand. If you disagree with everything Trump stands for, I understand. I have felt a similar way. For those of us who are feeling defeated, it is important that we do not put our energy into bashing Trump as it will not change our situation. We need to be proactive. If you did vote for him - I am not mad at you, I do not dislike you, and I will take the time to gain a better understanding of your current stance in the matter. That being said, it is my hope that you will do the same for me.

Now more than ever, we need to work together. We have to take the initiative to paint over pieces of the puzzle and make it our own.

We must be creative.

We must be determined.

We must be persistent.

We must build each other up.

We must add volume to the voices that have been silenced.

We must stand with the oppressed.

We must embrace challenge.

We must love like we have never loved before.

Our generation embodies an inclusive, progressive way of thinking, and we need to capitalize on this. We need to pave the way for future generations.

Hug your loved ones a bit tighter, and if you can, be a resource for those who may need your help or comfort during this worrisome time.

Love.

Unity.

Selflessness.

Comfort.

Acceptance.

Progression.