On The Scene With Crystal Chanel
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Election Day was less than a week ago, and the dust still hasnāt quite settled. I donāt recall in my lifetime such an energy around mid-term elections. Specifically, regarding the gubernatorial race, support for minority candidates was high and widespread, with Mayor Andrew Gillum of Tallahassee, Fla. as the democratic hopeful for Floridaās coveted Governorās Mansion. And even now, just days after the official last day to vote, results are still ātoo close to callā. Even after Gillumās concession speech on the night of November 6th, things remain too close to call.
Iāve learned, and continue to learn with each new experience, that you must be careful not to give up too soon. Even when things appear to be moving in a certain direction, or leaning towards a certain outcome, itās not over until itās over. I often wonder how many situations I walked away from too soon, or how many dreams and opportunities didnāt turn out the way Iād hoped simply because I decided to stop believing.
The word āhopeā is such a heavy concept, described by President Obama as audacious, bold and fearless, specifically, āThe Audacity of Hopeā. He was, on to something, because the
change we need is going to take a hope that doesnāt waver because of the threat of an unfavorable outcome. Based on this, for those of us who live by hope and faith, many of lifeās circumstances will be too close to call in the moment. Thatās when hope and faith have to override feelings, negative reports and the urge to throw in the towel a little too soon.
Hereās the thing: The close calls and almost wins bring out more emotion than the land-slides and the blowouts. Rather than stretch your faith, it often seems easier to end things on your own terms. But here is another thing: Almost making it proves that you have what it takes to, make it. And hereās a third thing: With so many neck and neck races, and so many red states turning purple, I remain hopeful that, just maybe, our nationās citizens are becoming more united and aligned. President Obama insisted during a campaign just a few years ago, āWe are not as divided as our politics suggest. I still believe that we have more in common than the pundits tell us,ā and I agree.
Post-Obama America, thereās such a hope and expectation for change. Thanks to Obama, we have the audacity to hope. Yes, we want and need representation, and weāll keep fighting for it, but as we wait for things to get better, we must commit to being better, no matter what is happening in politics.
Ā Ā Ā

To Mayor Andrew Gillum: Take in this moment for all itās worth. No matter what title you walk away with, redefine what it means to win. Play the hand you were dealt like itās the one you wanted and keep bringing it home.
Ā Ā Ā To those who support MayorĀ Gillum, his agenda, and his efforts: Donāt stop supporting because of one outcome. Donāt stop believing and hoping for change⦠especially when itās too close to call.
Audrey Aaron, Marketing Executive
Press Release Marketing, LLC
Writer – Editor – Business Development
www.justpressrelease.com
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