Survivor Stories: "Thoughts from my Desk, 7"

In today's political climate, it is easy to get wrapped up in a simple trap: the trap of animosity.

Plagued by polarization, we often separate our nation on the basis of politics. Animosity and anger seeps into our reality when discussing political issues. Hatred can spread like a wildfire. Don't get me wrong – I completely understand. Whether the 2024 election results excited you, or worried you beyond belief, I understand how easy it is to feel angry when important political offices don't bend towards your arc of moral justice.

However, this trap of animosity benefits nobody if it is not used as fuel – fuel for the fire of justice. Elections, politics, and legislature don't always go our way. This is the scary, beautiful side of democracy – things can change in the drop of a hat. However, nothing is ever necessarily permanent. Change can always be made.

So, I'd like to urge my readers to use these trying times as motivation to build something beautiful. Use your beliefs. Use your animosity. Use your resources to make change. Ryan Holiday, author of The Daily Stoic, published an inspiring post on Instagram for anyone having "post-election anxiety." One quote specifically stuck with me. "Our job today and tomorrow is the same as it's always been – to be good, to be wise, to stand up for what's right, to resist what is wrong and evil. Nothing changes that. Nothing exempts us from that. Nothing prevents us from doing that."