The votes were cast, and the results announced Tuesday evening caused anxiety for Americans from coast-to-coast. How could this happen? What were you thinking? Don’t you watch the games being played?
Before you assume these reactions were to November 5th’s Presidential election, there was another vote last Tuesday night. ESPN unveiled the first listing of teams and their standing for the Bowl Championship Series’ new 12-team playoff – that’s 8 more teams than the old model with just 4 teams. You would think the expanded format would mean more happy fans, but complaining was rampant from fans of teams that missed out, and of teams that made it.
Criticisms on various social media platforms ranged from regional prejudice, to traditional old-crony favoritism. Probably even had some fans of Southern Methodist University [SMU – 13th ranked] upset that Notre Dame [10th ranked] got in…Methodists vs Catholics, get it?
To say the anger index of fans was elevated is an under-statement, but what stood out to me was the number of head coaches mentioning their team’s resiliency to move on and upward. There are more games to be played, and new votes each week until the season’s end.
The Presidential election, that’s a different story: the vote is in, and next election in 4 years. What I found most interesting was information revealed in the Voter Exit Polls with average citizens systematically questioned after casting their ballot.
Of course, the main issues that determined who got their vote reflected concerns for the economy, the country’s perception, the borders, abortion – difficult issues we hope everyone can work together on for satisfying solutions.
But what about America’s resiliency? The Exit Poll survey said that over 60% believe our country’s best days are ahead, still to come. I love that! If the response had been 70 or 80%, even better, but a majority still have a positive attitude.
Merriam-Webster defines resiliency as “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to adversity or change.” Some may view the Presidential Election as adversity, for others it may be change, but the key words for growing and prospering are ‘ability to recover’ and ‘adjust easily’ – just one more way of saying, “Attitude is Everything!” On that positive note, we can all agree.