Apologratitude

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I'm sorry that we have been unheard, misunderstood, criticized, disrespected, blamed, shamed, disowned, de-friended, and demonized. I'm sorry we don't always know how to hold our own perspective and each others with an open mind, and sorry we don't always know how to understand each others deeper concerns and values and goals. I'm sorry we don't always see and treat each other the way our highest selves or our higher powers would. I'm sorry for all the opportunities for compassion and kindness and forgiveness that we overlook or reject. I'm sorry curiosity and cooperation and compromise can be too far a stretch for us sometimes, and condescension and condemnation and separation too easy. I'm sorry for the hurt and outrage we've witnessed, and sorry for the wounds we've received and inflicted. I'm sorry we've torn each other down, and in doing so dragged ourselves down too.

I'm thankful too, for our shared concerns over integrity and morality and leadership. I'm thankful for the things we see differently, and thankful for the things we see the same. I'm thankful for the respect we've shown, the patience we've demonstrated, the truth we've sought, the standing up we've done, and the voices we didn't keep quiet. I'm thankful for the effort we've made to engage during an extremely challenging time. I'm thankful for how we've changed, and how we've remained steadfast. I'm thankful we can keep seeking to understand and learn from each other, and help each other heal and grow.

From my friend Bojan...

"Today I practiced my rights, as a brand new citizen of the United States of America, to vote in the presidential election. Tomorrow, the result of this process will, unfortunately, divide the country. If your candidate wins, do not gloat and rub it into the other side's face. Listen to their point of contention and respect the reasoning behind their vote. If your candidate doesn't win, respect the will of the majority and accept the newly appointed president. Then, use your constitutional right to question the process, challenge the political decisions, and engage your local officials to help you with your issues. Whichever side you're on, be respectful. Respect opinions that don't align with yours, respect your fellow human beings, and be willing to compromise. The country I was born in was violently split because of the geographical, political, and religious intolerance, and I would hate to see my home country go through the same thing. We're all on the same team, and now, more then ever, we need each other."