I awoke with the stangest feeling today. What was different? I could breathe. My jaw was unclenched. My skin wasn’t burning. The twisted circuits in my brain that had been trying to wrap themselves around chaos, lies and deception for four years were melting down and dribbling out my eyes. A wave of joyous relief swept over me. Is this what normal feels like?
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Could my gratitude for their willingness to step into the wreckage that is our un-United States be any greater? I don’t think so. It overwhelms me, gives me more hope than I’ve had for a very long time. Makes me cry.
In his first day as President, Joe Biden reversed ruinous mandates of the past administration in a grand swoop of legislation. With each stroke of his pen my heart soared. Thank you, it said. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I know we still have a raging pandemic that is gathering speed as it tears a swath of death across the world. But now the United States has leaders who care, who are willing to act, who are already doing what it is in their power to do to staunch the viral hemorrhage.
In my gut I feel we were perilously close to losing what I had taken for granted my entire adult life.
Under the sham of governance for the past four years, our allies no longer trusted us – those who had come to our aid time after time when we needed them most were treated shabbily. The courageous people who committed their lives to protect our country were disrespected in the basest ways. Racism at its ugliest ruled. Living in Indonesia I didn’t want to admit I was an American. I felt ashamed of my great country, ashamed and dirty.
It is a shock to the system to realize how quickly black becomes white, how readily we numb to unacceptable behavior, how willingly we turn blind eyes to atrocious wrongs against humanity and how almost half the U.S. voting population was ready to continue that devastation for another four years. There is a hideous cancer at the core of our country that fed on the steady diet of excrement being doled out from the top.
That food chain has been sliced off.
I don’t know of anyone else who has the experience, knowledge, integrity, faith, and compassion to work the miracles needed at this time. President Biden is our man of the hour and Vice President Harris is his right hand. It’s a Herculean task before them but I believe they were born for this, a calling if you will, their karmic purpose.
That feeling I couldn’t recognize this morning – I’ve named it now. Relief. Huge, nomalizing relief. And gratitude. They’re mixed together in a healing soup called HOPE. That’s what’s on the menu for our country and there’s plenty for all.
Eat hearty.
writing for self-discovery 
Jan 22, 2021 @ 12:45:20
Oh yeah! I watched the inauguration on NYT. Deep into the middle of the night. Shed tears, felt big joy, relief and awe. And I’m not even American. Indeed, there is now greater HOPE for the whole world…oh, and how about that priceless gift of poetry from Amanda Gorman?!
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Jan 22, 2021 @ 12:59:22
Me too, Amit. Stayed up to watch and YES! The never-to-be-forgotten poet and her poem!
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Jan 22, 2021 @ 15:00:51
You speak for many, Sherry. It has been extraordinarily dangerous. It will take time to right the wrongs while also addressing the climate crisis, righting the economy and working on the inequities in our country while bringing the virus under control. But it all can be achieved with responsible, empathetic and intelligent leadership. And, yes, the 73 million that supported Trump are still there and they worry me. I always knew there were some like them, but so many does surprise and distress me. Some will change when they find they have a place at the table, but some may forever feel left out by their very nature. That is sad. For the other millions of us, we take up the challenges with hope that we now have a reasonable chance of success in providing for the future.
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Jan 22, 2021 @ 18:40:12
Exactly as you say, Diane. All of it.
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Jan 22, 2021 @ 19:24:04
What a bunch of crap. Blocking you. Trash democratic talk
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Jan 22, 2021 @ 22:10:45
I have spoken what is true for me, Kathleen. It is completely up to you to decide whether or not you agree.
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Jan 22, 2021 @ 21:56:41
My thoughts exactly. I don’t think I realized how truly stressed I was until it was over. And many of the lives lost to the virus did not have to happen, and that is so shameful. I have been so embarrassed for our country for the past four years, and now I am proud again. Watching the inauguration and the festivities on TV left me teary and grateful.
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Jan 22, 2021 @ 22:06:18
Isn’t it startling to see the reality of the past four years in stark contrast to real leadership and realize the toll it’s taken on us physically and mentally? The energy shift is palpable and I, too, am teary and grateful!
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Jan 22, 2021 @ 22:40:07
You speak for us all….well a lot of us anyhow. I too hope the people opposed will come to appreciate what leadership and compassion looks and feels like. The healing has begun. It’s a bright day here….figuratively as well as literally.
Sharon
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Jan 23, 2021 @ 19:08:51
Everything feels brighter, lighter, more manageable. What a difference.
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Jan 23, 2021 @ 17:39:43
From the ‘other side of the world’ we watched (as New Zealanders) – it was such an incredible and welcomed event – Americans can now feel very proud of their new President & Vice president – and agree that the beautiful young woman reading the poem spoke for so many. So much work to do but confident that there is a strong team behind them. So relieved that is an end of an ‘unbelievable’ four years.
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Jan 23, 2021 @ 19:11:47
Thank you for sharing the New Zealand perspective, Gail. The young woman who wrote and read her poem was phenomenal!
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Jan 24, 2021 @ 07:24:57
I couldn’t agree more! And yes, it was (is) worrying that so many just followed and blindly accepted the shocking things he said and did. A lot like Hitler in Germany being allowed to commit so many atrocities against the Jews for so long without being stopped by the decent people in Germany. Surely there must have been some who didn’t agree with what was happening???
Let’s hope Joe Biden and Kamala can succeed in reversing the patterns of behaviour that were becoming the norm over the past four years.🙏🙏🙏🙏
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Jan 24, 2021 @ 10:12:21
The way outrageous behavior became accepted was terrifying. Certainly reminiscent of Hitler and Germany. Fortunately, it hadn’t gotten to those extremes yet – but the writing was on the wall. Biden and Harris will need all the prayers they can get!
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