By Doug Fouts - Managing Director at Xapsis Integrated Marketing
We’re are on the verge of a presidential election, a fact
most of you probably knew, and it seems like in all corners of the country we
are being told that this could be the most important one in the history of the
nation. That may well be true, and certainly
we are being presented with two very different visions of how to run the
country and what may be the answers to the current economic state. However, I wanted to just share for a moment
what I feel is perhaps the most important choice each of us will make, and it’s
not the one you will make in the voting booth behind the little curtain.
The greatest choice you will make is the one that faces you
every day, not once every four years, that being how you will respond to the
events that happen, the circumstances you find yourself in, the challenges you
face and the triumphs you enjoy. How
will you respond the day AFTER the election, no matter who wins?
I was perusing a well-known Twitter aggregation site and
reading people tweeting about everything from anticipation of apocalyptic
destruction to rioting in the streets depending on the outcome of this
election. The way I look at it, after we
see the final outcome next month that’s when the real work begins either way.
What this country needs more than ever are people from
across all spectrum's and walks of life to make the choice to bring out the best
humanity has to offer, not to succumb to the attitudes and actions that cause
us to fight amongst ourselves and breeds discouragement and dissension. You cannot always choose your circumstances,
but the one choice that no one can take from you is how you respond to them,
that’s ALL on your shoulders and passing blame holds no water.
Every choice carries with it consequences, make no mistake,
and frankly most of the time the right choice is not the easy one. I read a quote recently online, the original
source was not supplied, but it said, “There are always two choices, two paths
to take. One is easy and its only reward
is that it’s easy.” That kind of sums up
a lot of life and the most important decisions you find yourself making.
Doing the right thing, responding the right way is difficult
and I believe no matter what happens in November there are some difficult
decisions to be made for this country and the directions it takes. No matter what I hope we can all commit to
having our attitudes guided by the principals of our founding fathers, those
rock solid convictions upon which this country was born. We need to choose non-negotiable(s) like:
- Integrity
- Honesty
- Generosity
- Humility
- Brotherly kindness
- Ingenuity
- Inspiration
- Compassion
- Mercy
- Strength
- Encouragement
- Courage
These, and so many other qualities that encompass the better angels of our nature, are the characteristics we must choose to hold on to tighter than ever on the morning of November 7th, 2012. We need to teach them to our children, instill them in our families, model them by example, and recognize them in others because no president can heal all the wounds of the country, right all of the wrongs of society, nor mend every struggling business. It falls to “we the people” to choose how we respond when things are good and things are tough…what will you choose today?
