By Susan Dromey Heeter,
InDepthNH.org

Susan Dromey Heeter

I muse joyfully not on the election results, but on the glory of no more political ads…for a while.

I muse joyfully on voter turnout. Wow. Americans are learning that our votes DO matter…and count.

I muse joyfully on participating in this election, on learning and speaking my truth, on canvassing for my candidate, on participating in an amazing process.

I muse joyfully on freedom of the press, that as we go forward, we continue to keep our interests piqued and curious, that we now hold those for whom we voted – or not – accountable to do their jobs.

I muse joyfully on my friend, Ana Garnica, who upon learning the results posted, “The voice of America was heard and that is called Democracy.”  And she was not thrilled with the outcome but as a new citizen of America, is truly celebrating her right to vote.

I muse joyfully on the bravery of women who came forward to speak their truths of sexual violence.  I am certainly not joyful for their horrific experiences but for their voices, their honesty.  I pray all women and men and girls and boys continue to speak their truths – even when it feels mocked or ridiculed.

I muse joyfully on the fact that, going forward as a nation, we have learned so much about politics, about this process, about our leaders.

I muse joyfully that four years is not really a long time in the grand scheme of things.

I muse joyfully that all politics are local.

I muse joyfully that I am an educator. I muse joyfully that I am surrounded by educators every day, those men and women trying to make a difference, encouraging all to learn, to read, to think critically.

I muse joyfully that we have public – and private – educational choices in America.  After this election, it seems more vital than ever that we all value and respect history, literature, economics, art, math, science, world cultures and languages.  It seems more vital than ever that we learn, that we amp up our knowledge. There is an astonishing amount of ignorance out there.

I muse joyfully that as a woman and a mother of two daughters, there are a great many women out there who are stellar leaders with strong voices and convictions.

I muse joyfully Maggie Hassan is one of them and that she is in the Senate.

I muse joyfully that I had a dad, the son of immigrants, who valued education, kindness and, most importantly peace.

I muse joyfully on peace.

I muse joyfully that as a nation we may go forward in kindness and dignity – for all.

May you muse joyfully on your  own journey – today.

Susan Dromey Heeter, a writer from Dover, recently let her hair go au natural white. Besides writing Joyful Musings for InDepthNH.org. Dromey Heeter is a secondary Spanish Teacher at Dover High School and the mother of two teenage daughters. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards. She also writes about thrift shopping and all things frugal in a column called “Budget Vogue” for the New Hampshire Union Leader.