Quicksand and the Election Results

Did you hear the news and root your feet in the grass feeling like you were sinking in the quicksand? The word hit all cultures when the announcement was made of who is the new President of the United States.

In 2012, 2008, 2004, 2000, and many elections years before we were able to vote, there were victories, wins and losses. Some of those years, I was wallowing in my own heartache, pain, anguish and disbelief. I didn't curse you, wish you ill or attacked your character because we disagreed. I was sorrowful and had my own fear, but I knew I would survive. Most importantly, I knew that one single vote should be allowed to alter the characters of who we were especially for two people who had absolutely no personal relationship with us, our friendship or even our business. They were doing a job that affected many dynamics, but the day the winner was announced, I had to respect my vote and more importantly, respect your vote.

In 2016, when both candidates were the choices, I could not embrace either one, but I knew there was only one that I would have to embrace because of the values I live by and have taught my children. Now, I will say neither candidate had my values, but I had to look at the ones that had something that was a speck of dirt on common ground. Nothing that I would have poured in concrete, but I had to outweigh the scales. I found a few and that is why I voted for the person who I thought would be the best choice. I know you may disagree and I am not hurt or celebrating in victory because I know your pain that is pouring out of your vessel. I have experienced the same emotions and fears.

Truth is, there is no victory in either one of our candidates but there is hope and the hope lies in my faith. The eight years that I watched our country going deeper and deeper in debt and listen to the allegations of the people who were running our country I really struggled to kept my opinions to myself because they were my opinion. Now with this election, I will admit a few did slip out and fortunately there were people who I really treasure in my life that were kind enough to not attack, but make sure I saw the wrong in my words. I called it the love slap, because I know it was done in love, not in anger.

As we know, perfection died and my perfection is just as flawed as your perfection. What I did in my teens, 20's, 30's, 40's and even today is who I was yesterday. Can you say you are the same person that you were in your earlier days? Would you still say the same words today that you very casually said maybe a year ago? I know I would not simply because I am no longer the person who had no respect for myself or for others; yes, that is raw truth. No excuses, no lies, what I thought was bold and cool, was really obnoxious and rude. I wanted to be me and had to learn how to respect opinions that were different from mine. Often times, I did, but it was a learned behavior as I grew older.

Every day we have potential to change because change is what helps us to grow and become better people. Although it's not a perfect world with perfect people and perfect decisions, I am asking you to respect my decision and accept the wins and losses, just as others have with the former elections.

Not everyone walks away in victory and that's why there are runners up. If everyone was a winner, we have no one or no reason to work harder to become better. Today I'm doing my best not going to gloat because of victory, but I am also not going to wallow in the past because of who wasn't elected this year.

Our role as people is to make a difference and we are the people of the United States. It is us that can help to make those changes by committing our values to our families, to make better living environments, and giving hope and a future to all of the generations of children for their years to come. Do you know who your great, great grandparents voted for or what their values were?

Victory is not us versus them, but our actions will be victorious to future generations. In four years, we will once again be faced with the same decisions and will have the same divisions because of values and beliefs. But I know in the end, all of us will survive the victory and loss because we are to be the character example to others and we never want to allow ourselves to be someone that we are not.

I am so grateful you are in my life and this may be my blog or my rant. Whichever you decide, I am okay with it because these are my words and I want to own them.

Alayna Stiffler is a certified Leadership and Business Coach and helps small business owners and sales consultant recognize there are alternative ways to learn how to connect their business practices with their own personal branding. Contact Alayna at http://www.adsbusinesscoach.com/ for more information on her coaching practice.



 By Alayna Stiffler


Article Source: Quicksand and the Election Results