Yes, it is time to be an adult. I am speaking for myself however I do think that many of you need to follow suit. I will admit it, I have become a sore loser. There, I said it. I should be ashamed of myself, but I am not. I can’t explain it. I hate that Hillary Clinton did not win. I did not want to get out of bed the next day. I walked around in a daze and when I opened my mouth no words came out. I warned people at work not to look at me and definitely do not talk to me expecting an answer. Fortunately there were many others who felt the same way. But we cannot keep going this way.
I cannot bear to watch the news. I keep telling myself that eventually I will come back to the land of reality and become numb to all of this. Or at least make peace with it. I need to celebrate the good things that came out of this election. Yes, there were some good things. In spite of the fact that one of the most qualified people to ever run for president lost, many women won. That is a reason to be positive. It could have been worse and many of think it is worse right now.
I am tired of mourning what could have been. I am tired of going over the exit polls and reading the websites in an attempt to understand what happened. None of that changes the fact that the election is over and my choice of candidate did not win. Regardless I still have to be respectful of opinions that vary dramatically than mine. I have to not get drawn into the countless social media chatter that borderlines on hate on both sides. I have to accept the outcome and learn whatever lessons that are thrown at me. And there are a lot.
I am tired of being offended by people who turn right around and tell me that they did not offend me. You do not get to tell me that you did not. You do not get to tell me which words that you call me are offensive.
I am learning to examine friendships. I did not unfriend anyone, but it amazes me that some do not understand that casting a vote goes well beyond politics. Aligning yourself with a candidate says just as much about you as the candidate. And that goes for both sides. I am seriously doubting the sincerity of those who support candidates who are against the equality of all people. Try as I might, I am looking at those people differently and perhaps they are doing the same to me. And if I hear one more person tell me, “I am not racist, I have a black friend” I will scream. Just stop it. Your actions will dictate that fact, not your words.
Anyway, I am just tired. I am tired of not acting like an adult. I know better, we all do. The time has come for me (and maybe you as well) to move forward. To turn the news. To stop being angry at the way things are and focus on making things better. We need to find more candidates to place on our local ballots. We need to get off of the sidelines and get involved in our lives again. It is time to stop the temper tantrums and be an adult. Who’s with me?
