Surviving this election: Getting back to where life makes sense

image of two people talking

Photo credit: Harli Marten, Unsplash

I really, really need this election to be over. I really, really need everyone to just get along.

I’m stressed out and in a worry. I can’t stand to be on Facebook. I feel ideologically betrayed by my own family. And I’m so stressed that even my husband told me to settle down last week. I think I’m driving him crazy.

It’s a tough time for many of us, I think. No matter which side of the political aisle you’re on, you have been told for months, no years, that the other person is evil, corrupt, and will ruin our country the moment he or she takes office.

And, let’s face it. This is one of the most negative election cycles we’ve seen in a good while. I’m not hearing any discussion of the issues. I have serious concerns about losing my health care coverage, but we never talk about that. I have concerns about education, our budgets, and taxes—but nope. If we get anything about that, it’s like a 5-second sound bite. Instead, it’s all name calling and shameful undercover videos—and it’s everywhere.

The second debate was so bad, so depressing, that I just left the room, announcing to my husband in melodramatic fashion, “I can’t take this anymore.” I had a friend on Facebook post that she quit watching the second debate to go fold her sheets—and she hates folding sheets.

I like Facebook and other social media, and since I’m a blogger, it’s kind of important that I stay connected. I can’t just go bury my head in the sand right now, which is what I would really like to do. So every morning, I head to Facebook to see friends and family I know and love posting things that are just absolutely dreadful to me.

I’ve been trying not to post political posts myself, but every now and then I get weak and post something. I’m sure my friends and family who are posting dreadful things to me find my posts most dreadful.

So I head to my news sources, and I can’t help but notice that the real issues I would like to see addressed are completely absent. Instead, it’s all about emails and sex scandals, name calling, and just all-around bad behavior.

I don’t know how we got here, but we’re here. It’s awful. It’s scary. It’s pretty darn confusing. But I’m sure we’re going to make it through it. I just need it to be November 9th, already!

I miss my simple life.

I recently made some big moves in my life to live a simpler, less stressful life. I quit my full-time job and cut way back on my hours I spend working. I want more time for things like my family, our chickens, cooking, and writing. Plus, I totally need to be thinking about Halloween. It’s my favorite holiday, and this election is ruining my Halloween. We haven’t even carved a pumpkin!

So let’s make a deal. Let’s try to get through the next few weeks together and with some kindness and understanding. After all, aren’t we all really after pretty much the same things? Don’t we all want a safe place to live, the ability to provide for our families, a good environment for our children, equality for all of us?

We need to all remember what’s important, question what we read on the internet, realize that we’re not going to convince anyone of anything on Facebook, and just chill a little bit. Let’s remember the simple things in life. I think that’s what will get us through this, no matter who wins.

I don’t think what’s happening right now is working for any of us.

Let’s hug our kiddos, take a walk amongst the beautiful fall leaves, decorate for Halloween, and remember the simple things. Let’s talk to each other instead of at each other. Let’s get back to where life makes sense.

That’s my plan to get through the rest of this election cycle with my sanity intact. What’s yours?

Crystal Sands

About Crystal Sands

I am a former academic and award winning writing teacher turned hobby farmer/homeschooling mom/freelancer. In 2015, after too many years of working too many hours, I decided to change my life. This blog shares my stories related to making the change and simplifying my life–a process that began when we finally got our first chickens. In this blog, I will share my experiences learning how to hobby farm on a small place in Maine, become more self-sufficient, live frugally, live peacefully, and have more time for love. I hope you will join me on this journey by following my blog and following me on Twitter @CrystalDSands.