Like many of you, I have been following this political cycle with immense concern. The more I see people desperately screaming to have their concerns and their point of view heard, the more I’m choosing to withdraw from voicing mine — because I don’t want to be that person.  I don’t want to be that person people unfollow because my support differs from theirs. Once they do that, I no longer have a voice. And neither do you.

I have grave concerns about both major party candidates, and the tertiary party candidates, by and large are not suitable for the job either for a variety of reasons. The more media frenzy I observe, the more concerning this whole process becomes. Perhaps you’ll find this bizarre, but I’m finding peace in watching Newt Gingrich.

Watch him. He’s calm. He can articulate both sides. He’s not worried. This is not his first political rodeo. He knows life with go on no matter which side wins the election. Why does he know this? He remembers we have a system of Checks and Balances. He knows we have the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial branch. He hasn’t said this. I’m surmising it from his calm, even demeanor. No matter who gets elected, they are unlikely to accomplish even a fraction of what they are promising. (Judicial appointments do niggle at the back of my mind, though — I prefer someone who does not legislate from the bench but seeks a valid interpretation from the actual Constitution — so many decisions of late do not seem seated in that.)

Check out Newt’s article published after the conclusion of both party conventions. Two Conventions, Two Realities and A Jarring Contrast. In this article, he summarizes and acknowledges the two parties see reality in differing and not incorrect ways. Both are correct in what they see and what their concerns are. Come November, voters will decide by casting their votes which side’s version of reality will assume leadership roles in the White House and in Congress.  The results of that voting will set the course for America for the next two to four years (acknowledging House of Representatives come up for re-election every two years, and that leadership could change).

My question is, how do the winning leaders address the valid fears and concerns of the losing party in a manner which will result in a positive outcome for the country? I pray it’s something better than we saw in 2008 — “I won. You lost.” That was not helpful, and we see the road that approach and attitude has taken us down.

So, yes. Vote your conscience. Scrutinize the candidates on your ballot. Do some research across the entire ballot from the very top to the very bottom. Evaluate which candidate for each office will represent your views and concerns the best (hint, party affiliation is no guarantee they will be the best for your concerns), and vote for that person. It’s challenging to sift through the media propaganda out there, but you will feel more confident for doing so. This is how you can make a difference. One vote at a time. If you do this, I promise, no matter who wins, you will know you’ve done your best. That’s all you can do. That’s all you can control. Do that, and you don’t have to fret about the rest of the propaganda. In fact, don’t watch it. Your soul will thank you.