So we had a presidential election here in the U.S. last week, and the crazy rich guy won. I don’t really get involved in politics. I didn’t vote, because I didn’t like either candidate, and honestly didn’t care who won (or so I thought). I will admit, however, that if I had voted, I probably would have voted for Hillary. I mainly identify as a “liberal,” after all, and I am a woman, as well as a dues-paying, card-carrying union member. I was more than a little surprised on Wednesday morning to learn that Donald Trump would be our next president. Wow. I didn’t see that one coming. Most of us didn’t.

But the majority of my fellow Americans cast their votes for Trump (including my husband!). And you know what? I’m cool with that. It’s done. He’s just one man. What’s the worst that can happen?

Now that the crazy campaigning has finally ended, and the polling and posturing are a thing of the past, it’s time to start practicing what we’ve been preaching all along. Let’s be open-minded and respectful of other people’s views, even when they don’t seem to agree with ours. Now more than ever, we need to work together — stand up, reach out, and be the change we want to see. For real.

Take action. I mean REAL ACTION. I’m not talking about protesting and carrying signs in the streets. Don’t waste your time sharing meaningless memes on Facebook, and signing pointless petitions online. I mean, it’s time to put our money where our mouths are. If there’s one thing this new administration will understand, it’s the language of dollar signs.

Fed up with “unfair” banking practices? Cut up your credit cards and pay cash for your shit instead.

Want food manufacturers to practice GMO labelling? Stop buying from companies that don’t.

Want to take down “big oil?” Heat your house with wood and walk wherever you need to go.

Instead of donating that 20 bucks to some big global charity, give it to your unemployed neighbor so she can put gas in her car to get to that job interview.

We each get to cast one vote for president every four years, but we are faced with dozens of opportunities every day to vote with the dollars we spend and the choices we make. We only have one president, but there are millions of us. Our daily actions, however small, matter. If we pull our heads out of our asses, climb down off of our high horses, and plant our feet firmly on the ground, we can drive more change than any elected official ever will.

Because LOVE still Trumps HATE.

We really are STRONGER TOGETHER.

And MONEY TALKS.

~PEACE~