Disbelief, Shock, Anger, Confusion. The emotions are running the gamut this morning. The polls said one thing and you are experiencing the opposite. Much like the UGA football fans in the TN game your emotions are going through a whipsaw of disbelief.
I am here to tell you things will be all right. The Popes and Priests of the Catholic Church have been trying to destroy the Church for millennia and haven’t succeeded yet. The same will be true of our future President. Only the people can destroy this great country of ours and the fact that we went out in the tens of millions to vote means we haven’t killed it yet. It is when we akk stop caring that the country will disintegrate.
One of the things you have to constantly learn in the financial markets is that the markets do not care about your plans or feelings; your hopes and dreams mean nothing to the market. What do we know about the future Trump Presidency? Nothing, absolutely nothing, is known. You have had everyone who doesn’t know him and haven’t worked with him telling you what he is or what he will do. Bill Clinton governed one way his first two years then he lost the house and he changed. Trump just won the Presidency an office that tends to change the man versus the other way around. He defied everyone to win and that surprised nearly everyone last night. As a citizen I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
To all the Trump supporters and believers I say to you that he will disappoint you. He will let you down. He is a flawed character in many ways.
You may wonder why I am so stoic. I have already moved through the grief process. I did it months ago when our two choices were someone I believed to have broken many laws and getting away with it being the nominee and the other being a boor in many ways that spewed incoherence and whom I could not believe what he said because it would change from hour to hour and day to day. I had no candidate that I thought would unite us. I had no candidate that was a good moral choice. I had no candidate in the race. It allowed me to step back and observe.
Moving Forward from here. Have a clear moral code in how you govern your life. Work to dialogue with those whom you meet who hold a different opinion than you. It may be that what you believe is not true. Practice mindfulness and meditation to remain calm. The trolls will work to get under your skin. The media will look to ferment discontent for the better ratings. We all slow down to look at the car wreck after all. It is the way we are designed and they manipulate that. Know that organizations seek to manipulate you and your behaviors. A month off of Twitter and Facebook demonstrated that amply.
Finally, put down the screen. Go out and spend time with those around you getting to know your neighbors, friends, and those you have yet to meet. Go take walks in the woods or down the city streets. Go help others in need. Reject the politics that gives us such flawed people as our leaders, but thank them for being willing to get into the arena and fight. Finally, if you greatest fear was what either candidate would do as a President isn’t it time we gave them less power and retained more of it for ourselves? Take back the government from the politicians and the bureaucrats by demanding fewer laws, rules, and regulations. Now smile, hold your head high, breathe deeply, live intentionally, and lend a helping hand to those in need.
Wise words.