We all can do better. I will continue to reach out to hurting people. I will continue to speak up on social media. I will continue to work hard. I will continue to volunteer and seek more opportunities to volunteer. I know I can do better. I can reach out to people with views that differ from mine. I can speak up against injustice in my community. I can make sure I help people get to the voting booth. I can say I love you to more people. I can get off of the phone and listen a little more. I can exercise more. I can do better.

We can do better and we have to do better.  What is happening now is a result of years of neglect to our educational system, rural areas and poor communities.  We have neglected women and we have vilified Black men and White men. Not all Black men are unemployed misogynistic criminals and not all White men are racist misogynistic white supremist.   People that are hurting or feel misunderstood will many times cling to anything and anyone that will give them hope (even it doesn’t make sense to you or I). Your neighbor that helped you, dined with you and supported you and your dreams is also the same person that may have voted differently than you did. Please listen to them. People are hurting. People are feeling misunderstood. We can do better.

Yes, we can do better. Yes, there are people that are racist. Yes, there are people that are rapist. Yes, there are people that lie on both sides and from all walks of life. Yes, the bad people and I do mean really bad and hateful people do exist. They exist but they are not the majority. Most people are good. I believe in the good and I will stand up against the bad. We forgot how powerful a hug and a smile can be. We forgot how important it is to be nice. I am going to fight against hate by embracing love and compassion. I will speak up against hurtful rhetoric by pointing out the good in us all.  When possible I will ask “why do you hate me” and I will hopefully help them discover a reason to love me.

We can do better…our future depends on it.