If Donald Trump's Win Scares You, Here Are Some Words of Encouragement to Help Today
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Donald Trump has won the 2024 Presidential election. Despite seemingly unprecedented momentum for the Kamala Harris campaign, Trump won massive gains in most swing states, including Georgia and North Carolina. While many people understood that it was possible that the twice impeached, convicted felon former president could win, for some, it was still a shock to see it all happen.
It's OK to feel scared and upset – there is no sugarcoating the implications this election will have on worsening human rights worldwide, the climate crisis, healthcare, and more. But the old cliche is true: tomorrow will come, and there is still beauty and hope in the world.
We know it can feel impossible to muster up optimism in a moment like this, but there are small things we can all do. It's important to protect yourself, your art, your peace, and your community. Ahead, we rounded up some words of encouragement and reminders that hope is not lost.
There is no reason to give up:
“They want you to feel powerless and surrender and let them trample everything and you are not going to let them. You are not giving up, and neither am I. The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything and everything we can save is worth saving.” - Rebecca Solnit
Remember that some incredible candidates won:
“The road ahead will be long and hard. But for those of us that voted against a dictatorship, we showed that we are, and will remain, pro-democracy. There were key wins in some states and for that, I am grateful and proud of the progress. Good candidates won their races & good voters decided to enshrine certain freedoms. Now, we gear up and prepare ourselves to *continue* to be on the right side of history.” - Katie Phang
Community is key right now:
“I will say the same thing I told my kid when he went to bed: The world this morning is the same as it was last night. It’ll keep on turning. We all do the best we can with the options we’re given. And that’s not going to change. All we can do is try to take care of each other.” - EJ Dickson
Remember that you are important and you cannot be erased:
“All i can say is live. you have to live. if you’re trans, queer, a woman, bipoc, disabled, an immigrant: you must live. we have to support each other. we have to be visible and loud if and when we can. and above all else we have to live.” -Em
It's OK if you were surprised by Donald Trump's win:
“Please don’t feel silly for hoping. Please don’t feel stupid for being surprised. You let yourself find joy and confidence in goodness despite the odds. You worked hard despite knowing what might happen. These things are not silly. They are reminders of humanity. You did that.” - Taylor Schumann
Don't regret hope
"This is my last Thread for the night. I won’t tell you how to feel; what you’re feeling is valid. Feel all the feelings. But don’t regret hoping, trusting, believing and fighting for a brighter future. It wasn’t for nothing. You and your families are worthy of that future, even if it takes longer to arrive. 🌱💚" -Dr. Shanté Holley
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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
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