We all woke up to unbelievable news this morning. I couldn't quite get my head around the fact that Americans had chosen to elect an unpredictable man with no political experience. A man, who openly speaks out against people, encourages bigotry, who responds to nonsense written about him at 4am and has sexual abuse allegations pending.
My first thought was the world was going to end, then I realised the children would be waking up and the first thing they'd ask was the outcome of the election.
For over a year, all they'd heard was news about Trump's racist, misogynistic remarks. They'd seen he was a bully, mocked by almost anyone respectable worldwide. His behaviour was everything we had taught them to oppose. Yet here he was being endorsed and given the most important job in the world.
My mind was blank.
After telling them he'd won, I explained that their lives would not be affected. That their purpose in life was still to be honest, good, kind, respectful and generous to those less fortunate than them; that was their job yesterday, it would be the same today and wouldn't change, no matter what happened in the big bad world.
A grey cloud hung over me for most of breakfast, my eldest wouldn't let the discussion drop and all I could do was tell them that everything would be okay.
I went for a walk to clear my head after the school drop and came across this tree:
Look at it. It stands tall, beautifully striking and observant. It doesn't care who walks past, what they do or what they say. It continues to do what it does best; serve others.
And that's when I realised that is what I need to do. Focus on the good in the world, for there is plenty out there if you stop to look. I realised that I needed to stop worrying about the future and go home; work hard, be kind to others, speak up for those that are suppressed and basically do good.
So all of you out there that are losing hope today. All is well. Nothing has changed yet.
YOU can be the force of change, start your own movement of goodness. It's innate. Tap into it and don't let anyone win by dividing us. Let's not allow anyone to scare us. Keep loving and giving and don't stop until we have a society that is embracing and too difficult to criticise.
Let's "...be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi showed us it is possible.
We may have tough times ahead, but we can do this. Together we can get through this. And we will.