Dealing with Uncertainty

Election day is over, and we still have uncertainty. The votes are still being counted. It could be days before the winner of the 270 electoral votes is known. We have a system in place for our elections that we are being reminded of again and again each time an election is close. Citizens of the United States go through this over and over. We then debate the merits of the Electoral College. The bottom line is we want to know. Even if the person that we selected is not ultimately elected, we want to know. It is the uncertainty that makes people edgy. Things are said and done to fill the gap. The hardest thing to do is to wait and to trust the process. Prior to the election we talk about the process and the benefits of our democratic system. And we abandon all of that rational when things are unclear. In 2000 we went 23 days I believe with a level of uncertainty where votes were counted. We all became very intimately familiar with a “hanging chad”. Those were very rough days. It was exhausting, frustration and at times scary. We overcame. Our system survived. The system is the same regardless of which of the two major parties is disadvantaged or has an advantage at any given time. This year we have the added complexity of the pandemic and multiple ways in which to vote. Add to that the reality that states can have their own processes and timelines for when votes are due. It can be very exciting and equally frustrating. As we glue ourselves to the TV over emotions go up and down. New channels each have their own data experts that pour over the data and try to make sense of it for their viewers. These analysts try to be neutral (nonpartisan) but it can be challenging.

As we wait for the results and the final counts, we are subjected to the various strategies of the parties. I had heard at least one pitch for votes for send in money to help with the legal fees if their respective parties try to fight the outcome. I am personally just appalled by this. Votes are asked to pitch in all along the way leading up to the elections and now to help resolve the elections! It just seems to unjust to me. We are electing people to represent us and our interests. The salaries and health care benefits of these people are paid by the votes (taxpayers). At what point do our representatives work together on our behalf? At what point does all the money raised go to resolving issues and concerns for the votes? I want to have faith in the system. I want to be proud to be an American and to celebrate all the freedoms and opportunities that we have as Americans. It is just at times like these, sadly, when my faith and trust is tested almost to the point of apathy. That cannot be the answer.

Dealing with uncertainty in any area of life can be a challenge. The key is to sit with it. To find ways to be curious rather than frustrated. To use the opportunity to learn. I understand that intellectually. Really, I do. Right now, just like so many others, I just want to know. I would like the elections done.

This morning I traded one uncertainty for another. I got my pickleball racquet and headed down to our community resort. Each morning there is open play for all interested. You can be a beginner, advanced or anywhere in between. All you do is show up and add your racquet to the mix. I finally got myself over that hurdle and faced the uncertainty of how I would do. It was fun. At the beginning of this year, that was my big plan – to learn to play pickleball. With all that has been 2020 to this point, I had almost forgotten about that goal. It was good to put myself out there and to start to push into that uncertainty.