| here is a man who thinks that his little girl will make an excellent president |
It is so much fun to produce content that I hope will keep you coming back everyday to read my blog. I’ve worked really hard at blogging about a wide variety of topics so there is something that appeals to everyone. When I launched Connecticut in Style, I wanted it to be a blogsite that people would come to for ideas and lifestyle tips – and leave feeling a little inspired.
Behind the scenes, this blog is written by a human. And some days, it is not all sunshine and butterflies. I feel an obligation to post new content daily, but I just couldn’t bring myself to the keyboard in the aftermath of what unfolded on Tuesday evening.
I’ve struggled with my decision about whether or not to write about the highly charged U.S. Presidential Election. I never talk politics or about serious issues, my blog is not the right venue for that. I’ve spent the past two days carefully weighing the value of wanting my blog to be a carefree escape from the political news that has consumed our country for the past few months – and the value of being true to who I am.
Who I am is a person who literally pulled the covers over her head on Wednesday morning and dreaded having to face the day. I was in a state of shock, disbelief, fear and profound sadness. All I wanted to do was hide. Even though my body begged to stay in bed, my feet hit the floor at the thought of my two beautiful children.
After the kids were in school, I sought strength in my yoga practice. My mat is the place I go to open my mind, my heart and my soul. The 72″ x 24″ mat is my solace for peace and clarity. After yoga, I got into my car and did something that I rarely do. I wept and when I couldn’t weep anymore, I bawled. My sorrow stems from the significant divisions this election exposed in our country. I am not even going to “go there” as to all the reasons why. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the implications and I know that I will always be worried about what it means.
After much soul-searching, I’ve settled on some simple facts – the way I see them. When I feel frustrated and powerless, clinging to the facts helps me breathe. Here are my truths: The leader of a country doesn’t always represent the ideals of the majority population – this applies to past, present and future presidents. We all come from different life experiences, backgrounds, faiths, socio-economic factors, incomes, political parties and places across the U.S. where people have been negatively or positively impacted by the laws that govern this country. Until I walk a mile in your shoes, I can’t possibly appreciate the reasons that formed your decision.
We all have personal reasons for how we cast the ballot on Tuesday. I will remember this and keep an open mind while never letting go of my ideals and always standing up for them. I will move on and hope that as a nation, we can move forward.
xo, Sarah