To be honest, I nearly skipped writing a gratitude post this month. That decision had nothing to do with being unable to find things to be thankful for; it is the month the United States celebrates Thanksgiving, after all. Gratefulness is a national pastime come November. Rather, the presidential election still has me feeling a jumble of conflicting emotions that I’m having a hard time wading through.
However, three weeks post-election, it is more important than ever that we collectively attempt to come from a place of thankfulness and connectivity. It is for that reason that I am going to keep the tradition alive and share something a bit unorthodox that I have found to be grateful for in November.
I have refrained from discussing the presidential election on Musings on Momentum and I’m not going to delve too deeply into it today, as this does not seem like the appropriate platform for it. A good portion of my readers live outside of the country and if I were to take a sampling of those who do reside in the US, I imagine I’d find that you are as divided on who you voted as our nation is. Musings on Momentum is rooted in a mission to spread positivity, and more often than not, political discussions of late have been breeding the exact opposite and that is simply not the direction I want this blog to go in.
Suffice it to say that my candidate did not win the election and I have monumental concerns stemming from that, but not necessarily in the way you’re probably assuming. My alarm is rooted in the deep levels of divide within this country that the past year has brought to light. It stems from the increasing amount of violence I have personally witnessed and have had expressed against me in the last few weeks. It comes from a place of complete and utter fear for friends who feel discernable terror each and every time they leave their homes. It already feels as if this country is boiling over. What are the next weeks, months and years going to bring?
And yet… When I take the time to remove my comparatively liberal and privileged blinders I’m reminded of how lucky I continue to be regardless of who is in the position of power. I look at some of the issues I have been vocal about in the past and can’t help but think, “How petty of me.” I have wasted time and energy focusing on things that are unimportant in the big scheme of things. There are much larger issues at hand outside my front door, whether they are found down the street or across an ocean.
If anything, the past month has forced me to be reminded of that and has encouraged me to cultivate a less self-centered view of the world. November has offered the opportunity for a wakeup call and it is for that I am most grateful because, frankly, I needed it. The tunnel vision I had been living with was a contributing factor to how the United States got to the fractured point we find ourselves in today.
I am grateful for this giant neon sign of a reminder that I need to be open and receptive to all points of views. I appreciate that, if nothing else, the turmoil of the last month has prompted me to refocus my energy in more effective ways. I am thankful that my reality has been turned upside down and that I have been forcefully shaken awake. What have you found to be grateful for in November?
