Well, it happened...

Election 2016 is now behind us and the dust is still contiuing to settle. A quick look and my twitter feed and it is full of people reeling. They're wondering how all of this came to be. There is fear for the future. Those who were the most vocal against our current Presidential Elect are terrified about what this means for lifestyle, livelihood, and protection. I understand this. I feel it too.

I could go into detail about how the democratic votes were too divided on their candidate, I could rant about the the people who sat silent with their own feelings until it came time to go to the polls, I could even talk about the vicious rhetoric that came from both sides of this election that incited so much passion among voters.

That won't change anyting though.

Let's instead look forward to the world as it is and not the world that could've been. The fact that this election caused so much bitter rivalry the likes of which I have not seen is indicative of how much unrest and desire for change there actually was in this country. Say what you want about the Presidential Elect. I know I could say quite a bit. However, his oppenonet represented the status quo and he was yelling at the roof top that he would do different. The disillusionment in the system is what got our future president elected.

That's the point I'm trying to get here.

This is not a post about politics. My personal beliefs hold no place here on the internet. I know that thought sounds crazy, but it's how I've always felt. This is a post about healing the divide that seems to be festering in our society. Our new Cammander-in-Chief is the inevitable outcome to what has plagued us for too many years.

I would say for most of my adult life things have gotten steadily worse. Believe it or not it actually has nothing to do with the actual politics involved. There is this inherent "I'm right and you're wrong" mentality that has grown to almost violent proportions. There is so much hate right now toward not just our political leaders, but between the common people who back those leaders. I actually thought the government shut down a couple of years ago was the worse it could get.

Because people are refusing to find a middle ground in their politics, they're uncompromising in their hate for the opposition. This is true for both sides of our two party system. Without finding compromise and common ground, our government has been at a relative stand still for too many years. That has angered a lot of people and it shows in our media and on the streets. People are not seeing each other as people, but "the enemy". That label dehumanizes people to the point where everybody goes blind when it comes to the fact that we're all just people. We have our own dreams, we have our own creations, we have limitless potential. We lose sight of that fact so easily. It hurts my soul way more that any one man elected president.

Going forward, we have to understand that we are all citizens of this world. We have to heal whatever scars have occurred. We have to find the root of all this hate and go after that. From the LBGTQ community to the buckle of the Bible Belt. We have to put our differences aside and embrace everything we bring to the table together. Personal politics are irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. It doesn't define who we are. Politics can change, people can change their minds, and we can be convinced of new ideas. What doesn't change is the fundamental elements that make us human. No matter who you are, you are capable of love, of peace, of charity, and so many other wonderful things. We need to look past ideas as if they define us.

If you find yourself distraught about the outcome of the election just know that it is only for 4 years. That is a drop in the bucket when it comes to how long we've been on this world. We have a choice to move forward with the leaders we have now instead of getting angry at them. Their time in power is short. We, the people, have the true power. That is the power to make change. We have the power to heal our differences and make the world a better place.

In the end, what I'm trying to say is that we have a new President. That, in and of itself, cannot be changed. We will continue our trend of having the longest period of peaceful transition of power. What we can do, starting today, is come together to make him the best president we can. Remember, we have the true power here. True change happens on our level. Let's find the love for each other and let bygones be bygones. Let's find the common ground I know we all have.

I've seen so much hate on both sides of this blue and red country. Let's try to find the love going forward. I know that this message is going to get lost on the great sea of the internet and after the dust truley settles from this election there is going to be a lot of angry and hateful people people out there. However, if you do happen to read this, just know that I love you and if you can take that love and pay it forward than maybe I have done my extremely small part to help heal our little corner of the world.

​Be excellent to each other.