As we head into the final days of the 2024 presidential campaign, I am filled with cheerful excitement, because every minute and every day, I feel more and more confident that Vice President Kamala Harris is going to win and win big.
I actually have no idea how the election will turn out. I’m not a pollster and I’m not an analyst. I just feel it in my bones. And my bones rarely fail me.
Sure, my bones and I could be wrong this time. Instead of my heart bursting with happiness as it did on Election Night 2008, it could sink into the darkest pit of my stomach, as it did in 2016. But I don’t believe that will happen this year, and even if it does, what good would it do to expect it to?
We can either be miserable or we can be joyful. But misery serves absolutely no purpose other than to make us miserable. After all, if the country loses its mind, its way and its democracy this week, anticipatory grief will not make it any easier.
And if we prove we’re indeed the country I believe we are – a nation that will dig deep, reach high, and embrace the future promised us by the brilliant, brave, steely, light-filled warrior-servant asking us to help her help us save its soul – how sad to have wasted so much time and energy dwelling in darkness when we could have been enjoying the sparkle.
On the other hand, optimism has no downside. If we’re optimistic now and then the worst happens – and again, I don’t think it will – at least we savored the last, sweet dregs of innocent bliss before the poison washes over us.
I’m not giving in to – or even entertaining – despair because it’s toxic and contagious and ain’t nobody got time for that.
We need to devote every ounce of energy and every grain of time we have to helping Kamala Harris bring this victory home.
I’m choosing hope. I’m embracing joy. I’m sprinting toward the light at the finish line.
Because if we stay focused and positive, and keep our eyes on the bright horizon, as we do the hard, good work MVP is encouraging us to do, WE WILL WIN!