Election Day 2024: Is this the end? Or just the beginning?
November 5, 2024
I know today feels heavy for a lot of us, especially here in the USA. Election Day brings a swirl of emotions—hope, worry, anger, uncertainty. Maybe you feel a knot in your stomach, wondering what tomorrow will hold. If that’s you, know that you’re not alone.
Hey there, my friend—
How are you doing? Really?
All those feelings I mentioned above? I’ve been feeling them too these past several weeks—sometimes all at once. As I thought about a message to share with you today, my mind immediately went to a story that opens my book, that opens many of my keynotes.
It’s based on a real experience and keeps me grounded whenever life feels like it’s at a crossroads. If I could sit down with you right now, that’s the story I’d share.
A few years ago, I found myself staring at a wide, sandy beach leading to the vast Pacific Ocean which stretched out to the horizon. It was a beautiful day, with palm trees reaching up to clear blue skies.
Standing between me and that scene, though, was a road sign with big, bold letters: “END.”
End? I thought. It looks more like a beginning to me.
And isn’t that often the way it is? The endings in life are usually well-marked. You can’t miss them. But the new beginnings are always there, too—just not always so easy to see.
For many of us, today might feel like one of those “end” moments, depending on how the results unfold. And with tension ratcheted up so high this season, that can feel unsettling.
Even for those who find that the results align with what they’d hoped, it might feel like an end—as in, “okay, whew, the work is done.” But either way, I invite you to take a breath, look past the immediate outcome, and ask yourself:
Is this the end? Or just the beginning?
You Are Not Powerless
One of the most empowering things we can do right now, regardless of how things go, is to choose how we respond.
We can choose to begin again with kindness, with patience, and with compassion—even when it’s challenging. We can choose to hold onto hope for what’s possible, instead of feeling limited by what isn’t. And perhaps most importantly, we can choose to keep showing up for one another, listening, and finding common ground, even when it feels difficult.
Today might feel like a defining moment, and in some ways, it most certainly is. But what defines us even more is how we handle moments like these. How we treat each other, especially those who may be feeling anxious or disappointed, matters deeply.
Voting with Your Heart
Megan and I cast our votes a few weeks ago.
If you haven’t yet cast yours, I encourage you to take a breath and think about the kind of world you want to help shape. This is our chance to make a statement about who we are and what we stand for.
In my 5 C's to Adapt & Thrive keynotes, we talk about the importance of Clarity. I ask the questions: What do you want your life to be about? What do you want your family, team, or organization to be about? In other words, what do you value?
When it comes to voting for our nation’s leaders, we find Clarity by asking:
- What do you want this country to be about?
- What spirit do you want to permeate your community?
- What kind of country do you want, not just for yourself, but for your fellow citizens (including those who have different needs than your own)?
- What kind of example do you want to set for the world?
Leaders set the tone for those they lead. Their words matter. They can create hope or fear. They can inspire unity or division. They can spark kindness or animosity. We don’t get to choose what our leaders say or do, but the beauty of democracy is, we do get to choose our leaders.
Your vote matters.
Ending or Beginning? It Is As You Believe
No matter the results, tomorrow will come, and so will new opportunities. This moment, like all moments, is what we make of it. The true power lies in how we choose to respond, how we choose to be, and what we choose to begin.
So, if you’re feeling anxious or uncertain, remember that you have the power to create peace within, one breath at a time, one choice at a time.
Together, we will rise.
I’m grateful to be on this journey with you.
Up we go—