The election we control

A stone wall near the Woodstock-Pomfret town line on River Road. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Well before this momentous week got started, the choices for president in 2020 were very clear, and political leanings well established. But those aren't the only choices we get today.

In fact, we'll have choices every moment leading up to when the polls close, and long, long after Tuesday night. Each moment, we have an opportunity to elect how we will approach the times we're in, and reject what distracts us from those values. Whatever noise we may be hearing from the political realm, we can choose to walk the steady path of caring for our fellow humans, and encouraging others to do so.

Through social media, we've all seen hate compel people to display words, images or video footage meant to tear someone else down. That's become a tired habit, one we're all too familiar with. Starting right now, we can jointly make the choice to go against that popular grain, and build each other up. If we each embrace being an influence for good, that can provide an avenue for people to work together on important issues and cultivate the progress this country needs.

With that approach comes another very important benefit: an emphasis on progress, not on our differences. Many times this year, our differences have been used to divide us, and this stokes fear and distracts good people from working together. If we make the effort to find common ground, we can turn the tide and move forward in a more productive direction.

In the next 24 hours, we'll surely be tempted to give in to that all-too-familiar swell of emotions, in this challenging political atmosphere. But we have the power and fortitude to reject that negativity, embrace the good within us, and consider how we can be a part of positive change, whether that occurs locally or on a larger scale. Above all, the most important election is how we choose to travel those precious moments before us. Let's all decide today, that a loving approach is more important and more powerful than any other path. Staying on that path is not weakness, but the greatest strength — one we can readily share with everyone.

— Gareth Henderson