There’s a great probability your presidential candidate will lose on Tuesday. It doesn’t matter for those who assist Donald Trump or Joe Biden, your probability of disappointment is roughly the identical. You hear folks in your facet surprise: What is going to we do if our man loses?

Right here’s what you’ll do.

You’ll get up the subsequent day, or at any time when the outcomes are lastly confirmed, and be unhappy. You’ll really feel let down. You thought you knew your fellow People after which they went and did this! How might they?

There will probably be a refrain of voices telling you America is over. Articles will probably be written and speaking heads will probably be in your tv saying America has by no means been in such a darkish place earlier than. You already know somewhat historical past, sufficient to be suspicious of those statements, however you’re so disillusioned you’re inclined to imagine them. Don’t. We now have been by way of worse and we have now survived.

Do not act just like the nation is ending

You’ll hear conspiracy theories. It was the Russians who fastened the election — despite the fact that our Electoral School system makes that very troublesome. You’ll hear that busloads of unlawful voters have been seen arriving at polling locations, although pictures are mysteriously by no means produced.

Combined in will probably be true tales of voting irregularities, the type that exist in each free system that has ever been. We should work to repair these holes. Our system is imperfect, so folks will attempt to shake your religion in it. Don’t allow them to.

You’ll surprise what to inform your kids. Inform them that they stay in the most effective, freest nation in historical past and that these are the breaks. Clarify that America will proceed, America will prosper. Work to verify America continues and prospers. Stroll the stroll of loving your nation, even when it doesn’t vote your method. Don’t focus on shifting to Canada. Nobody is shifting to Canada.

A voting location on Oct. 27, 2020, in Lowell, Massachusetts.

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You’ll shun violence, and you’ll condemn anybody in your facet who doesn’t assist a peaceable transition. You’ll not make excuses. A free nation can’t abide rioters in our streets when issues don’t go their method.

You’ll not unfriend individuals who voted for a distinct candidate, nor will you put up a standing asking them to unfriend you. You’ll save ending friendships for critical infractions of conduct, not various political beliefs.

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It’s arduous when the candidate you needed to win loses an election. I’ve labored on campaigns and know the ache of not getting the outcome I desperately needed. My candidate was going to alter issues for the higher whereas their candidate was going to make issues worse! My candidate cared and their candidate did not! I’ve felt this deeply. I’ve misplaced sleep over politicians shedding elections. Life has to go on. As a rustic we can’t keep suspended and divided by politics.

And, sure, it’s politics. Sure, you’re feeling the way forward for the republic is on the road. You’re feeling your trigger is simply and their trigger isn’t. You need good they usually need unhealthy. Sure, that’s politics.

Household, associates, neighbors, co-workers

We’ve caricatured our political opponents, however throughout you might be regular individuals who assist the candidate you oppose. They’re your loved ones, associates, neighbors and associates. Take a look at them anew and acknowledge they aren’t monsters. Should you’ve spent the previous 4 years demonizing the opposite facet, now’s the time to replicate on the truth that they, too, need what’s finest for America. In actual fact, there are few People who don’t need the nation to succeed. Reject these folks and interact with those who love this nation however need it to stroll a distinct path.

Don’t paint your self right into a nook the place the one folks you perceive are those who assist the identical candidate you do. That’s a really limiting method to stay. There’s a large world on the market, and folks have many causes for making the political decisions they make. Don’t assume the worst of people that make totally different decisions than you do.

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