When you’re carrying a heavy load, you don’t realize the impact the weight has on you until you put it down or it’s somehow lifted off of you.

Once that weight is lifted, you feel a tremendous sense of relief and a need to “shake it off” as dogs do after a fight.

That sense of relief, of a tremendous burden suddenly being lifted off my shoulders, is exactly how I felt Saturday morning when I heard the news that the election was called and Joe Biden was the winner.

I didn’t realize the mental burden the current president had on me—the anxiety I carried, the embarrassment of his behavior, even his spelling— in front of the world and before my kids. That man represented me as the president and I was repulsed by him.

I have spent years teaching my kids to be people of good character. To be honest, forthright, to think of how your actions will impact others, to be compassionate. People witness your character through every action you take—whether it’s smiling as pass a stranger on the street or picking up trash and putting it in the garbage, even when no one is looking.

The man who represented us as the president of the United States of America, a role that should bear honor and prestige, who represents this nation on the global stage— how could sure a base person of questionable moral character, come to stand before all of us and the world to represent who we are as a nation?

Despicable.

Horrific.

Unforgivable.

The President of the United States must be a:

• Person of the highest caliber, who stands above the pettiness of the world and moves us as a nation in a direction fit for keeping the world safe for our children.
• Person who unites us in a positive way, who calms our fears during dark times, and speaks to all of us.
• Person who isn’t divisive… who doesn’t strive to divide us, who TEARS WALLS DOWN, not builds them, who has respect for people and families.

Someone…. Who isn’t freaking orange.

I didn’t realize the weight of the load until suddenly I felt it lifted right off my shoulders— my spirit soared— joy returned… the light came on… Voldemort was defeated.

We no longer have to fear the mortification of president’s daily tweets, his petty words and actions, his forlorn, long-suffering wife.

The USA paid a huge price these last four years in terms of our standing on the global front of justice. Respect was a word lost during this time.

And the tide has turned.

Hope returns.

A new day dawns.

The weight has lifted… an unprecedently heavy weight.

Not to say that there isn’t a long road ahead of us of hard work.

Joe and Kamala have their work cut out for them.

But we know the captain of the ship steers with a heart and soul for the people. He cares and is caring.

He is a real human.

And mostly, he carries the dignity of the Office of the President of the United States of America.

We can again stand proud and wave the American flag knowing we are on a better path.

A path where people

• Think about things beyond themselves
• Care about the planet
• Plan for the sake of our children and grandchildren
• Unite us as a great nation in the world.

The weight has been lifted…

Our burden is lighter…

The road is still long, the battle still demanding, but a real leader is ready to take the helm.

The opportunity for joy has returned.

The views in this blog are solely those of the writer.

The normal Monday Morning Motivation will return next week.