Be The Light At The End of The Tunnel, Look for The Rainbow

When it rains, dance. Things are only as gloomy as you allow them to be Always look for the rainbow in a gray sky.

November 9, 2016 was supposed to be like waking up on Christmas morning. Going to bed with anxious nerves, not knowing how to feel, upset about drama – which could easily be associated with family drama surrounding the holidays – yet, this is the polar opposite of how I felt, and still feel in this moment as I type these words.

I woke up with tears in my eyes. I went to be reminding myself of how grateful I am for everything in my life, reminding myself to focus on the positives, and that maybe, just maybe, when I woke up in the morning, it would all be okay, and we as a collective population will make the correct decision.

I was wrong. I sat up in my bed, on my phone for 30 minutes, staring at my phone. Reading all of the positive and hopeful messages on social media, I thought that this would inspire me enough to get out of bed and move forward, but it was not. The tears in my eyes lingered, and as I dragged myself out of bed, I felt the weight of the world on my chest. I moped to the bathroom, continued with my daily routine, and trying to remember the hope, inspiration, and excitement that I had just 24 hours prior.

Yet, with everything going on, and this nightmare-like reality that we are currently in, all I can manage to say is thank you.

Thank you to all of the millennials who saw a future in a woman who has inspired me for years, and who I felt was best fit for the position of President.

Thank you to all of these beautiful souls who are fighting for hope and positivity on social media, a place that is often buried with hate and disrespect. I am now a member of several groups on social media that encourage women’s rights, that inspire me daily, and that have people from across the world that are sharing their stories of how we will move forward, how we will persevere.

Thank you to the endless support of family and friends, who can all come together for causes that will better our state.

Thank you to the people of our state, a state where I am proud to call home, and that I love.

I understand not everyone is able to see this yet. I understand that this is going to take time. I understand that this is not a permanent fix.

Rather, it is my way of moving forward. It is my way of changing my mindset, to focus on gratitude, to focus on what I know is right in my heart and mind, to focus on the blessings I have received in my 23 years of life, and make sure that all of these things are available to all people moving forward. Education, housing, food, freedom. These are our rights as Americans, our rights as humans. Each individual in this country deserves equal rights. Just because the election is over, does not mean our fight is. We will continue to rise, to break the glass ceiling, to move forward for all, together.

No matter your political preference, we are all humans. We are all breathing, moving, beings with intentions, with ideas, with opinions, with opportunities. Opportunities that are able to turn into movements, and inspirations to others, and, best of all, change. So as I write this, not know who will read it, I am grateful for being able to write it. For being able to voice my opinions, and to have an outlet.

Feel the emotions, voice your opinions, share your views, and receive energy from others, but rather than turning that energy into negative comments or anger, turn it into positivity and light. Because right now, more than ever, we need to be the light; the light that leads our future, the light that will still shine bright when our grandchildren vote for their next president.

And yet, even on my way, all I could do was complain.
Complain about traffic, complain about how far away my work is from my house,
etc. But, I am fortunate to drive every morning to a job I love. I am fortunate
enough to have a job. I am fortunate enough to have a car. And I am beyond
grateful for all of this. And it is with this daily gratitude, that I will
manifest more positive energy, and work to come out of this funk, and work to
help, and to find a change, and to do my part as a human, as a spiritual being,
as a citizen of the United States of America.

"I've had successes and setbacks and sometimes painful ones. Many of you are at the beginning of
your professional, public, and political careers — you will have successes and setbacks too. This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what's right is worth it." - HRC