Certainty for Today

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” – Nelson Mandela

My internet browser keeps trying to bait me to find out who I’m voting for 2024 election. It presents headlines from one side or another to see what I’ll click on.

From my point of view, I don’t want to click because I don’t want it to feed me what I want to hear. It’s not that I’m uninterested or uninformed. In these days before this hotly contested election, I’d love to have some certainty. But not at the price of wrong information and expectations that will lead to disappointment.

So instead I’ve made my list of the things I’m fairly certain will happen today:

The sun will rise and set.
That I’ll feel moments of awe, angst, and amusement.

Cooper the dog will put something in his mouth that he’s not supposed to.

And I’ll eat a little or a lot of Halloween candy.

Miss O and Mr. D will make me laugh
and some toys will be played with.

I will not make it through my to-do list.
But I will accomplish enough of my must-love list.

We’ll learn something, spill something, and read something.
One kid, or both, will anger the other and apologies will have to be made.

That amidst the rush and hustle of daily life with a nine-year-old and a five-year-old,
I’ll feel the overwhelming gratitude and love that I was able to choose to have this family
Using IVF.

And that’s why I never needed to open my browser to figure out which way to vote. I voted for Kamala Harris so that other families can choose, if they need to, to have days filled with the same types of certainties I’m likely to have today.

59 thoughts on “Certainty for Today

  1. Beautiful post, Wynne. For better and for worse, there are so many things that are certain in life, including a new day to try again. What a gift they are.

    I never thought of news headlines in the same way you have – the bait and switch and the creation of echo chambers driven by AI and algorithms. I do try my best to read both sides of the media to see how the issues are covered. Ultimately, I would’ve the same as you. May tomorrow and the aftermath be as peaceful and calm for you all down there. 🙏🙏🙏

    Sending you extra well wishes for this week ahead!

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    1. Including a new day to try again — oh, I love that, Ab!

      I notice this on my browser homepage that tries to offer me up headlines. I tend to ignore them to go right to the new sources I want. But it’s an interesting game.

      Thank you for the peaceful and calm wishes. I hope so too!

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  2. No matter what happens today, life will keep going on. No one really knows how that will look, all we know is that we’ve made it safely through other days, so we will once more. Hope you have a good week.

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  3. Amen Wynne!

    “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever things are true, nobel, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, praiseworthy … think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8 . . . pray for our nation (2 Chronicles 7:14) . . . and vote as you felt led.

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  4. We’re not even in the middle of an election campaign in Canada, yet it feels like we are and I’m tired of it. I just wish the conversation could be more respectful and productive.

    I’ll be travelling to the US later this week. Part of me wishes I wasn’t because I’m concerned about the aftermath of the election. How sad is that?

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  5. I like your list of certainties. Especially when you mention feeling gratitude and love. That’s a wonderful foundation to appreciate during the rush of daily life — and the stress of this election. 🌞

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  6. Thank you for sharing, this is completely how I feel. Yet I have friends to seem to think their words influence me. They don’t. I know and feel all the anxiety that this election holds. Half the people will be happy and the other will not. In the end my only wish will be this, that who ever loses will lose with grace and dignity. Because the world is watching and right now we as a country need to set an example of what to do. Not what not to do.

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    1. Oh my goodness – I totally agree with your wish that for a loser with grace and dignity. Yes, the world is watching. Thanks for the thoughtful comment!

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  7. Great positive vibes to start your day off with Wynne. I think the level of anxiety we all will feel for the next 24 hours is horrifying. So now that you have finished early voting, my friend you have done all you can do and me too. But the time you spent with your children makes a difference. That is what they will remember! What a fab mom you are my friend. 🥰💖😘

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    1. Ah, Kym – you are so right that this anxiety is huge. I LOVE your perspective that we’ve done all we can. Here’s to navigating the next few days. So grateful to have pillars of HOPE such as you in this community, Kym!! ❤ ❤ ❤

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      1. Oh my dear Wynne, we try to support each other as much as we can, because we need a village to remind us that the craziness that tries to push our sanity to insanity, won’t win. We sometimes feel helpless, but this is where we must elevate our hopefulness. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible. Much love my friend. 😍💖🥰🥂🤩

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  8. Nelson Mandela’s quote is a great philosophy to live by. Hope over fear seven days of the week.

    Your list of things that are fairly certain to happen is a good reminder that life will go on, regardless of who wins.

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  9. Wynne, this really grabbed me: “I don’t want to click because I don’t want it to feed me what I want to hear.” I so resonate with that!!

    And, yes, let’s practice mindfulness and gratitude today. That is always worthwhile!

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