Let It All Out

This may apply to you or not. If not, feel free to ignore.

Scroll through your social media feeds, these days, and you’ll probably see a lot of advice about how to best grapple with the enormity of our new reality.

However well-intentioned these messages are, let’s please stop telling people not to feel bad or bitter about it. Yes, it’s indeed positive to remind them that they are not alone and to go easy on themselves, but let’s please not admonish anyone for feeling awful right now.

If you’re paying attention, the ramifications of Tuesday’s election results are genuinely terrifying, and anyone who is exhibiting signs of stress, depression, anger, frustration, fear, anxiety or just flat-out trauma is perfectly justified. It’s natural for them to grieve, worry, rage, vent and/or mourn accordingly.

They’re not overreacting or being histrionic— they just might be a little more invested or have more at stake than you.

Please don’t diminish their pain or concern by telling them not to dwell on it. It just happened, they’re entitled to feel how they’re feeling and express themselves.