52 Things to Do in These Post-Election Days
November 9, 2016
The election happened.
We will have a new President.
Honestly, I’d rather not talk anymore about that.
TODAY, AND IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AND MONTHS AND FOUR YEARS THAT WILL FOLLOW, THIS IS WHAT I WILL BE DOING INSTEAD…
Loving my neighbor. Every single one of them. No matter what they look like or how they act or what they believe. I’ll be loving them.
Praying. I have no control, He has it all. I’ll be finding hope in that.
Spending time in nature.
Choosing joy. There are times it all feels horribly dark, but I will always try to look for the light and find the joy even in the unhappiness.
Following more baby animal accounts on Instagram.
Worshiping.
Working.
Writing.
Laughing. I’ve found there is no quicker way to turn a sour mood around than to just laugh. Find a funny YouTube video or look up bad puns or watch Parks and Rec or something.
Fighting, not fleeing.
Yoga.
Petting animals.
Eating fruits and vegetables. As much as the junk food tastes good, the green stuff makes me feel good. I need as many “feel good” helpers as I can get.
Making art. Let’s add beauty to the world, yeah?
Making friends. Especially ones who aren’t like me. They’re often the very best kind.
Reading books. Books teach, they give us an escape, they inspire, they encourage, they make us feel less alone, they instruct, they guide, they let us relax, and these are all good, healthy things.
Crying. Yeah, I’ll be doing a lot of that. But letting it out? It’s almost always better than bottling it up. Don’t be ashamed of the tears when they come.
Treating myself.
Walking. Not running, because… nope. But I’ll walk. Because when I move my body and breathe fresh air, I always feel better.
Tithing to my church.
Asking questions. Hard questions, messy questions, real questions.
Acts of kindness.
Crunching all the falling leaves. Walking barefoot in grass whenever I can. Splashing in puddles.
Reading Scripture daily.
Voting. Every time there is an election, I will be there to cast my vote.
Sponsoring a child in a third-world country.
Tearing down walls. Not literally. If there is a barrier between me and another human, I will be working to break it down and create unity.
Cuddling with my dog. Self-explanatory.
Playing with babies. Also self-explanatory.
Meditating.
Volunteering in my community.
Hugging people I love.
Taking naps.
Imagining the kind of America and the kind of world I want to live in, and acting accordingly in all areas.
Sharing meals with loved ones.
Seeking knowledge.
Binge-watching Netflix. (Any good shows you recommend?)
Doodling on everything, all the time. I heard that it helps you focus or something, so I’m going with that.
Grieving with those who are grieving, mourning with those who are mourning, letting my heart break for what breaks God’s heart.
Praying for the President. Praying for all politicians. Praying for every leader.
Spending time with kids. Being reminded of creativity and imagination and whimsy and playfulness always helps.
Taking my vitamins. (Why is it so hard to remember?)
Flossing my teeth. Also hard to remember.
Trying new things. Experimenting.
Getting my hands dirty.
Planting seeds. (Literally. I’ll be growing a garden.)
Building community. The more diverse, the better.
Saving money. (I’m awful at this, but I’m working on it!)
Shopping at Target too much.
Enjoying life.
Traveling to new places to meet new people and experience new things.
Giving gifts.
Drinking lots of water. We always feel better when we're hydrated.
Trusting God.
No matter how you feel today, whether your candidate won or not, whether you’re excited or you’re devastated… no political office can change who we are. Let’s be good, kind, generous, gracious, joyful, loving, compassionate, fun, honest, and humble people. Let’s do something healthy for ourselves today. We’re alive, we’re here, let’s make the most of it.