This too shall pass… When I was teenager, I heard this saying during a difficult time in my life and adopted it as a mantra that helped me through breakups, cross-country moves, deployments, illness, injury and the deaths of loved ones. It was a reassuring reminder during the darker days that the sun would shine again. When I awoke today to dark, rainy skies and the reality of a shocking election results, I immediately summoned my mantra as I wondered how I would move on through my disappointment and disbelief.

This too shall pass… As the day went on, I recalled how as an 11 year old I woke up after the 1976 election in a panic because a peanut farmer would be president. Social media posts reminded me how people said the world would end with an actor president or our first black president. Well, guess what? We lived. And I survived today, focusing on my work and the people I serve on a daily basis. While it’s disappointing to see some negative and disparaging comments in my Facebook feed, I am also encouraged by the positive posts about moving on, working together and making a difference at our own level. We are resilient and we take care of each other. Besides, it turns out that the actor turned out to be a successful president and the peanut farmer has made a darn good former president. Perspective helps. Presidents are important, but they are but one cog in the giant American machine.

This too shall pass… Now that I am older, I know that this phrase goes both ways. In the throes of victory and the best of times, I am always the cynic, aware that all good things eventually come to an end. We may experience amazing success and great periods of happiness in our lives, but we will also eventually experience failure and sadness. I have won some great government contracts and built some amazing award-winning teams, only to lose that work later and disband those teams.  Facebook’s Timehop feature regularly reminds me that I have set personal records and performed great feats of strength at the gym, while I am currently on crutches and relearning how to walk. Even the Chicago Cubs know that once their much deserved celebration is over, they must begin again.

Today, while some are celebrating a win, others are mourning a loss. After the inauguration, the line between the “winners” and “losers” will blur and this too, shall pass. The winners will have a lot of work ahead of them. After all, it’s no small feat to repeal a flawed healthcare system or build a giant wall, especially when half the country isn’t with you. The winners will soon face the inevitable fact that an administration change isn’t a quick fix and it’s extremely difficult to get things done in government. The losers have a lot to sort out, too. They have some soul-searching to do on where things went wrong for them and how they can make a difference going forward. They will have to step forth and help, resisting the urge to gloat when the new administration makes mistakes, as new administrations are bound to do. Regardless of where you fall, this too, shall pass, and we will move forward  as American always do, working together with kindness and understanding.