Having different political opinions than someone is typically thought of as a bad thing. However, I believe it’s helped me in life to grow up with an open mind. I am a part of a very politically inclined family; exposed to the political world very young, I have memories back from when I was about five-years-old of me running up and down the stairs of the state capital building in my hometown, just waiting for my parents to get done with work. Being an impressionable little kid, I always listened to what my parent's opinions were, believing in them as much as I could at such a early age. Now, fifteen years later, I completely differ in my political views and identify as a separate party than my parents. For that, I’m thankful.
I am the youngest of three sisters by a ten-year age gap. While my two parents would be on one side of most issues, my older sisters would typically both be on the other. Coming up in a household where I would (not always voluntarily) hear the different sides of each news story allowed me to expand on how I thought about the world. I was able to open my mind to the fact that there isn’t just one side of anything; many times there’s more than even two sides.
This isn’t to say that this type of family dynamic is all completely tolerant, unbiased, and understanding. Family dinners can turn into full-fledged, heated debates. Throw in an election with candidates like Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and you have some solid entertainment to go with your home cooked meal.
Throughout this election cycle harsh words have been said, judgment has been passed and eyes have rolled. My family members have been frustrated with each other to the extreme. My sisters and I will constantly wonder how my parents could agree with certain politicians and my parents will wonder the same of us. It’s either a battle to get our points across to one another, or the topic is avoided completely, leaving room for tense silences.
Having different opinions than the ones you love most can be really difficult. Yet, this is how we grow. I’ve learned how to take other’s opinions and recognize them as valid, regardless of my personal thoughts on the issue. While sometimes it’s easy to just believe what your loved ones believe, my parents raised me with the ability and the will to think for myself. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to be able to forge my own opinions independently of my parents. At the end of the day, we will still love each other despite who or what they voted for, what news channel they watch, or what’s said across the dining room table, and we will be stronger because of it.
