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Election Aftershock: Women, It's Okay to Feel How You Feel

When I woke up and saw that Trump had been re-elected, I found myself utterly speechless. Words just wouldn't come. In that moment, I decided that my first course of action was to get off social media. I knew that the whirlwind of reactions and opinions would only add fuel to my frustration. Instead, I searched for ways to calm my mind. I remembered the lessons shared in my recent episodes with Natalie Bedard and Jeff Patterson, where we explored different strategies to stay grounded and centered in times of stress. That day, I relied on those techniques heavily, breathing in and out, trying to find any sense of balance in my racing thoughts.




The practice of mindful breathing kept me afloat, as I tried to stay in touch with my body, consciously releasing tension wherever I felt it. Despite all this self-reflection, my mind remained restless. So, I turned to visualization as a way to process my emotions, hoping to create a picture in my mind that could help me understand the storm of feelings inside me. Instead, what I saw made my frustration even clearer.


I imagined a man and a woman both up for the same job. The woman was dressed sharply, clearly well-educated, and spoke eloquently about her qualifications. She had spent years refining her skills, proving her worth, and demonstrating her commitment. On the other hand, the man was moderately dressed, speaking off the cuff, with little substance or relevant experience. Despite the woman’s polished professionalism and undeniable expertise, the decision-makers gravitated toward the man. His charm, his ability to make them smile, and his charisma won them over. As simplistic as that visualization might sound, it echoed the way I felt about the election results.


My makeshift visualization


Vice President Kamala Harris, in her 100 days of campaigning, poured her heart into debates, planned events with top-tier celebrities, and drew on over two decades of political experience. She’s a decorated leader, known for her accomplishments, and, most significantly, she had already served the nation as Vice President. Yet, despite her qualifications, she fell short to a candidate who, in my view, uttered repugnant remarks, disregarded women's rights, and pushed policies that tore families apart.


Reflecting on this, I couldn’t help but think about the uphill battle women face. How often are we told to “work harder” even when we’re already putting in twice the effort? The higher we climb, the further away the goal seems to become. We are the multitaskers, the carriers of life, and the creators of new ideas and concepts. We’ve even learned to be okay without getting the credit we deserve. And while I didn’t want to be a Debbie Downer, I couldn’t ignore the glaring reminder that, for women, respect and recognition can be hard-won and, at times, heartbreakingly elusive.


Still, despite the disappointment, there’s a quiet power in knowing our strength. As Vice President Kamala Harris said in her concession speech,

This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves. This is a time to organize, to mobilize, and to stay engaged for the sake of freedom and justice and the future that we all know we can build together.

Those words felt like a call to action—a reminder that, even when things don’t go our way, we must persist.


So, ladies, let’s allow ourselves to feel our emotions fully. Cry, shout, sit in stillness—whatever helps you process. But when you’re ready, we have to roll up our sleeves and get back to work. Because the truth is, women are unsung heroes. We may not always get the recognition, but our impact is undeniable. We are resilient, we are strong, and we are still here.


One thing I deeply admire about Vice President Harris is how she stepped into the arena. Despite not being chosen in the preliminaries, she faced every challenge with courage and fought her hardest. Even in the face of chaos, she maintained her integrity and rose above the noise. She embodied Michelle Obama’s timeless mantra: “When they go low, we go high.


So let’s continue to aim high. Let’s keep working with integrity and grace. Today, be encouraged. You have every right to feel disheartened, but don’t ever stop being amazing, even if it feels like the world doesn’t see your worth. We are, and always will be, a force to be reckoned with.


Lets Chat? How are you feeling right now, and how can we support each other in this moment?

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