Get In The Game
Early voting has ended and this week those that are waiting until Election Day to cast their votes will be able to exercise their right to vote. This election cycle has been a little tense and I expect that the tension will not ease until after the last vote is counted on Tuesday evening. In every election there are winners and losers. It is just the nature of the beast and it is always more fun to find yourself supporting a winner at the end of the day. But, the cold, hard fact is that some of us will be backing the last horse to cross the finish line, not the one covered in roses, and we must be able to lose with grace.
Likewise, getting the glory is great but what is even better is being a good winner. It is easy to be a gracious loser. Most of us have been taught that skill since we were little children. It is the mantra of every parent, don’t be a sore loser. And, most of us don’t have the stakes in the game that the candidates have so it is relatively easy to move on. But, it is more difficult to be a good winner. It is not only appropriate, it is expected that winners will revel in the glory of the moment. After all, the harder the race the more precious the win. But, we have all witnessed that moment when reveling in success has turned into something much nastier and pointed, even malicious. We need to be aware of our reactions and not become “that guy” that makes people want to beat him over the head with his trophy.
It is a fine line, to become engaged in the process and to not over engage to the point that we become the most obnoxious form of ourselves. Remember that every voter has an opinion and, no matter the outcome, no one opinion is more valid than the others. No matter who walks away with the big prizes on Election Day, if you participated in the process, if you voted, you are a winner on a much larger scale than any one appointment to any one office. Vote. If you have not already, do not miss the opportunity on Tuesday to Vote . The only way to really be a loser is to stay home and not participate. Nothing is more sad than sitting out of the game. Vote.
