As the political dust settles from the Presidential election of 2016, I have started to think about what all of the intense charges and counter-charges of the election mean as we go forward as a nation into 2017 and the presidential term of Donald Trump. Many of us had visions of dire consequences if the “other side” won the election. Now that we know who did, we are faced with processing what this all means for our personal and professional lives for the next few years!

Whether you are pro or con his administration and policies, all of us should consider following a few important concepts in the days to come. First and foremost, the election should have taught us the power of the democratic process with all of its warts and shortcomings. The adage, “No Vote No Grumble” should be expanded to also include the exhortation, “No Work, No Hope”! If you are committed to an issue, cause, or candidate, you need to express that commitment through engagement and effort for it to be successful. That’s the magic of democracy and it is a magic we often disregard. Democracy takes hard work and if we’re not willing to engage in it for the issues we value, we are condemned to disappointment and frustration.

A second thought as we look to the future after a bruising election process is the need for all of us to reexamine what we are doing in the larger community and make sure that the focus of our work is to bring health and resiliency to those lives we touch, whether it be through for-profit or not-for-profit work. We need to always be mindful of the impact our work has on others and continually strive to make sure the impact is positive. Concern and care for those in need should not be a political dividing line, but rather a rallying point for all who seek a healthy and resilient community.

 

 

I trust these coming months will see me and my colleagues more and more focused on being better providers for our families, our neighborhoods, our community, our state, and our nation. For most of us, our kuleana (responsibilities) does not extend beyond our immediate family, neighbors, and work, and so we have the opportunity during the coming months to strengthen these ties and deepen our concern and work for those around us. I trust we can avoid worry and complaint about “large horizon issues” and national/local political personalities from distracting us from our service and kuleana to others.

Rich blessings to all as we step into 2017! E ho‘olawelawe pū kākou me ke aloha! (Let us seek to serve together in harmony!)