Grieving What I Hoped For: A Post-Election Reflection

It's the day after the 2024 U.S. election, and I'm off my regular content schedule to unpack the whirlwind of emotions I'm feeling: disappointment, shock, and even despair. This isn't about politics but about the deeper values of compassion, fairness, and empathy that feel threatened by the election results. Struggling to reconcile my hopes for a kinder world with the reality of the vote, I'm sharing my raw thoughts on how this personal heartbreak is more about our shared humanity than mere political decisions. I might lose followers over this, but I'm okay with that—this is about standing firm in our values and finding ways to move forward, one compassionate step at a time.

Check out the detailed show notes (https://tarakermiet.com/podcast/) and leave your thoughts or questions about today's topic.

00:00 Introduction and Context

00:22 Emotional Reactions to the Election

00:42 Reflecting on Shared Values

01:03 Disillusionment with Election Results

02:16 The Personal Impact of Political Decisions

03:52 Coping and Moving Forward

05:20 Conclusion and Call to Action

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction and Context
• 1:08 Emotional Reactions to the Election
• 1:28 Reflecting on Shared Values
• 1:49 Disillusionment with Election Results
• 3:02 The Personal Impact of Political Decisions
• 4:38 Coping and Moving Forward
• 6:06 Conclusion and Call to Action

Transcript

[00:00:00] Okay. So today, It is Wednesday, November 6th, 2024. It is the day after the election here in the United States. And. Even though this is out of my regular schedule and a little off topic to what I typically talk about. I just felt the weight on my heart. That I needed to talk this out. Even if no one's listening.

So. I'm feeling. A lot of things right now. A mix of disappointment. Shock. Sadness. Disbelief. And honestly some despair. I know. A lot of us are trying to make sense of these feelings. And I just wanted to share. Share my thoughts and maybe help us all find a little clarity together.

For a long time. I believe that even if we disagreed on. Politics. There was a deeper set of values that most of us shared. Shared. Values like caring for one another fairness. Fairness and the idea that every person, every human. Matters.

I thought these [00:01:00] values held. And us together as a country. But when I look at these election results, Results. I see that not only did we have a candidate win the electoral vote, but also the popular vote. And it feels like the. The foundation I had trusted has been compromised. I think what's hitting me so hard is realizing just how much hope I had. I had hope that we, as a country, we're moving toward more compassion. More empathy. More care for those who. We're struggling. I put a lot of faith in the idea that. Most people genuinely wanted a better kinder world.

But this decision, this vote. It makes me feel like we're moving in the opposite direction.

And as I was starting with this podcast. A lot of advice I had been given was to avoid controversial topics. Keep the. Peace and definitely don't talk about politics. But the thing is this isn't just about politics. It's about value. [00:02:00] And I talk a lot about values alignment and my work, because I know. I know how important it is. To feel connected to your environment. to feel like the places you live and work, reflect. What you stand for? And right now. I feel very unsettled. It's like the values. I care about most the values of compassion, love and. Support for others. They don't match the values that seem to. Be guiding our country.

And it hurts because these aren't. Just abstract values. This is about real people. Our friends, our family members. Our neighbors. Neighbors who may suffer from policies or decisions made. By someone who absolutely does not prioritize their. Needs.

For me, that's hard. To accept. And maybe that's, what's making this feel like a heartbreak. Because it's not just political. It's deeply. [00:03:00] Personal.

And I think that's where the despairs coming from, because it's. It's not just about the policies. It's about what the says about humanity and our responsibility to each other. I really wanted to believe that we could care about everyone, especially those who don't have. I have the same privileges or protections. And seeing a majority. Majority vote for someone whose values feel opposite to that. Let me tell you it's heavy right now.

There's also this feeling of loss around what we call. The American dream. The American dream is supposed to be about freedom. Freedom. Opportunity and a fair shot for everyone. But right now, it's starting to feel more like a nightmare. where. Freedom and fairness are slipping away. And that's a hard. Thing to accept, especially for those of us who hold these ideals. So close to our hearts.

Now I don't have a clear answer for how to fix this. 

Cause I'm still in my funk. Right now. And I don't even know how to immediately feel better.[00:04:00] 

But what I do know is that it's okay to feel unsettled, to feel. Hurt. And honestly, to grieve for the world that we hoped. For.

Maybe though this can also be a. Time to dig even deeper into what we believe. Stand even. Stronger in our values. And to keep finding ways to show up with love and compassion, no matter what.

Now I know talking about this might mean. I mean that I lose some listeners or followers and honestly, that's okay with me. If this message doesn't sit right with some people, it likely means. That we're not aligned and I'm at peace with that. Because. If we want to live and work in line with our values, we sometimes have to let. Let go of people who don't share the same values and while. It can feel hard. It's also freeing.

For me, this isn't about creating a space where everyone agrees. It's about creating a space where we care for each other and respect. The basic dignity [00:05:00] of every human. So if. If someone decides this message isn't for them. I'm okay. Letting them go. Because in the end, that means the people who stay. You who are listening? You're my people. The ones who believe in a world that's built on compassion, respect. And real authentic human connection.

So anyways, thanks for listening and for giving me the space to. Process this I've been dealing with all of the emotions. Today as I'm sure many of us have been. But what I do. Hope is that we can all find a way to keep moving forward. Even if it's just one small. Small caring step at a time.

I promise I'll be back. To our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow. And just promise me this, please take care of yourself.