One Question, 109 Responses: No Matter Who Wins, ____________

Yes, it matters who wins.

But maybe what matters even more is how millions of people, on any given day, choose to live, work, fight and advocate for positive change. Maybe the cumulative effect of countless individuals, striving to improve the world around them, is larger than any decision made from behind a big wooden desk.

That’s pretty much the entire premise of Reasons to be Cheerful. We believe the collective impact of practical problem-solving is greater than any one person’s power. That why our election coverage hits a little different, and why, a few weeks ago, we asked you to answer an open-ended question:

No matter who wins, ___________________.

Hundreds of you responded in ways that inspired, surprised and even amused us. (Shout-out to Randy Mack of New Orleans: “No matter who wins, I’m gonna need a stiff drink.”) This exercise has been a reminder of why Reasons to be Cheerful feels not only like a magazine, but like a community: Together, our actions add up to an overwhelming force that helps the world flourish.

Here are some of the responses we received.

No matter who wins, your jobs will keep helping people live better lives.

I will continue helping my clients get sober and recover from addiction. —Meghan, Texas

I will continue to be the best nurse I can be to all people, no matter their health insurance, or lack thereof. —Karen Haun, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

I will continue my work on gun safety such as assault bans (10 states!) and gun licensing. —Christina F., Chevy Chase, Maryland

I will still teach climate change to college students —Ned J. Knight, Newberg, Oregon

I’ll try to help families as a therapist. The bonds between parents and kids are what keep us striving for a better place. —Hans, Belgium

As a public high school teacher, I will continue to support my students in reaching their goals for the future. —Stephanie Harrell, Oceanside, California

I will continue to serve as a Narrative Therapy Practitioner working with survivors of abuse toward their preferred life narrative. —Kristin Pedemonti, Allentown, Pennsylvania

No matter who wins, you’ll speak up for what you believe in.

I will continue to fight for women’s rights and arts and education funding. —Barbara Santoro, Milltown, New Jersey

I will continue to be a voice for animals and veganism. —Karen Stoia, New Jersey

I will continue to advocate for the elderly and their caregivers. —Leslie, Arizona

I will still champion reproductive rights. —Elianna, Alabama

I’ll continue to fight to make life better for the working class. —Micah, Asheville, North Carolina

I’ll continue to vote with my dollars to support companies and brands that share my values. —Molly, Austin, Texas

I will continue to speak out about injustice and my unequivocal anti-war and anti-racism stance. —Stacey Thunes, US citizen living in Berlin, Germany

My friends and I will fight for everyone’s right to access health care. —Patricia Butler, Phoenix, Arizona

I will continue to fight for open space and parks in the urban landscape. —Candace, Cambridge, Massachusetts

I will continue to support criminal justice reform. —Nancy, Tucson, Arizona

I will keep fighting for the separation of church and state. —Casper Bemis

I will never stop working for a barrier-free world for all, including those with disabilities. —Lauren Tuchman, Maryland

I’ll keep making sure kids have access to books that represent them. —Cinda Nofziger, Homer, Alaska

I will continue to support higher education, my LGBTQ family and friends, and fight against misinformation. —Tracey Banning, Wisconsin

I will keep fighting for a woman’s right to choose. —Leslie, Colorado

No matter who wins, you’ll keep offering your time, talents and skills to others.

I will continue to help people regulate their nervous system through breathwork — building resilience to handle the curveballs of life. —Sarah Haberman, Edina, Minnesota

I’ll keep leading hikes in the woods to introduce folks to the serenity of nature. —Lori, Connecticut

I will continue working on creative projects and facilitating other artists and writers, finding and sharing joy in the creative process! —Karen, New Mexico

I will continue to offer donation-based yoga at my local public park, fostering peace in our hearts to expand to peace in the world. —Chrissy Hoffman, Berkeley, California

I will advocate for individuals living with mental illness by sharing my story through animation and music, and by fighting for resources to support these communities. —Anne Beal, New York, New York

I will continue teaching adult learners to read. —Kacy Faulconer, Provo, Utah

I will keep working on nonprofit projects in my little mountain town so it will be a better, more inclusive place for my kids and grandkids. —Tracy Croshaw, Packwood, Washington

I will continue to work side by side with people labeled with developmental disabilities to help the world see that inclusion benefits us all! —Clara, Canada

I will keep sponsoring my co-workers to get their citizenship and pay down their debt. —Elizabeth McDade, Spotsylvania, Virginia

I will still visit shut-ins to bring a spot of cheer. —Susanna Jacob, Toronto

I’ll keep helping my friend through cancer treatment. —Denise Monks, Boston

No matter who wins, you’ll be the change you want to see.

I will continue to deliver food to underserved communities; cultivate native plants where I live; and engage in conversations with young people to encourage them and give them hope. —J. Morra, Maryland

I’ll be supporting the return of beavers to the Upper Salinas River. —Brent Dannells, Atascadero, California

The transit authority in my town will already have finalized its next ten-year plan and they are considering an idea I shared during community feedback. —Vee Branson, Washington State

I will continue to sponsor a low-income Detroit woman with transportation and living expenses. —Mary Beth, Dearborn, Michigan

I will still ride my bike everywhere and still make my own biofuel when I have to drive – it’s fun too! —Mike McCauley, Winnetka, Illinois

We will continue nourishing our community by growing local, organic, nutrient-dense foods. —Rafael, Tennessee

I will continue to restore wildlife habitat where I live. —Dudley, Lincolnville, Maine

I’ll do my best to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Especially plastic. —KB, USA

I will continue to volunteer in my community via our Live Green program, I will support causes that serve the hungry and the poor and I will be actively involved in new ways every year. —Maria G., Texas

I’ll keep supporting my local farmers by shopping at the farmers market every Saturday morning. —Carol, Prescott, Arizona

No matter who wins, you’ll keep connecting with others.

I will be living lightly on the land and waving to passing cars when I walk around my neighborhood. —Carole, Maine

We will continue to be kind to our friends, neighbors and everyone we encounter. —Shira, Hillsboro, Oregon

I’ll continue to try to shine love, patience and compassion on everyone I meet. —Lori Lewis, Wilton, Maine

I will continue to spread caring in the world through daily and random acts of kindness. —Gail, Westchester, New York

I will speak with respect and empathy to my neighbors and friends. —Don Kelly, Camano Island, Washington

I will continue to do my best to listen to and understand people who think differently than me. —Princeton Junction, New Jersey

I’ll celebrate civility and continue to look for the helpers in the world. —Jo, Denver

I will practice kindness and focus on the things we can change, on listening and on continuous learning and unlearning. —Etta, Bremen, Germany

I will continue to make my home a cozy, safe space for all who enter. —Teri, Minneapolis, Minnesota

I will remain a positive force of support to ALL people. —Jim Stevens, Denver

We will continue to support each other and grow our circles of friends. —Julie Kulak, Naperville, Illinois

I will continue to grow beautiful flowers and give them away to people for free just to spread kindness. —Holly Santa, Pennsylvania

I will remain grateful that there are many people who nurture one another and our planet. —Robin B., New York, New York

I’m going to try to be kind and really listen to all my fellow Americans. —Nym Cooke, Petersham, Massachusetts

No matter who wins, you’ll have friends and family.

I will be the best grandmother to my granddaughter. —Carolyn, Massachusetts

I’ll have my amazing family. —Shaun, Virginia

I will have my brother. —NP, US

I will still love my wife. —Huel, Ontario, Canada

I will continue to love and be loved by my family and dear friends. —Margaret, Oregon

I will continue to show up for my family and community. I will continue to be of service to others finding solutions. —Jayanne Sindt, Port Charlotte, Florida

I will still have the people I love and care about in my life and together we will work to make this world a better place. —Nan Farrell, Monterey, California

I will continue to live more deeply in harmony with the natural world and with my biological and chosen families. —Jessica, Northern California

I’ll still have my family. And books. —Sarah Farmer, Austin, Texas

No matter who wins, you won’t give up on those you disagree with.

I will try to understand the other side’s opinions and try to do more volunteer work. —Cherie Wagner, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

I will keep peacefully dialoguing with others on topics we may disagree on and counter hate speech with more respectful dialogue, not more censorship! —Grace O’Malley, New England

I will not hold hate, disdain or ridicule for those who voted differently from me. —Deb, Oregon

I want our elected officials to talk civilly to each other, to compromise with each other, to come up with the best solutions for the people and their future in the USA. —Karen, Monterey Peninsula

I will continue to try to bring us together instead of supporting the severe political division over the past 9 years. —Karen Haun, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

I am going to continue to highlight stories of our common ground. —Robyn Reed, Los Angeles

I’ll continue to respect others’ opinions and find common ground. I am not defined by political party. —Steve, New Jersey

I will accept the results. —Mari, Nebraska

No matter who wins, you’ll continue to create.

I’ll still make art and give it away. —Derald

I’m baking at least 30 dozen Christmas cookies to gift and share. —Carlene Hill Byron, Topsham, Maine

I will continue production on my documentary film “The Good Stuff” about kindness, givers and ordinary angels doing good works in their communities. —Kris Hipps, Winona, Minnesota

I’ll keep playing music to sustain my soul and for others to enjoy. —Rik, New Jersey

I will still make music and write poetry. —Alanna Pass, Newberg, Oregon

I’ll continue working on my novel. —David Breithaupt, Columbus, Ohio

I will be writing an acrostic everyday like I’ve been doing the last 12 years. —Penny Kornspan, Highland, Indiana

No matter who wins, you’ll be a friend to the earth.

The hundreds of acres of forest in my EcoVillage community provides habitat for a large variety of species. —Suzanne Russell, Virginia

I will keep working to decarbonize my community. —Cindy, Ohio

I will move forward to install solar panels and continue to do my part to combat climate change. —Carol, Massachusetts

Renewable energies will continue to hold greater influence in the world. —Jesse Krizik, Sedona, Arizona

I will continue to plant native plants and push local policies for a more sustainable future. —Kathy Solomon, Bronx, New York

The solar panels on my home will keep generating the electricity I need to power my home and battery-electric vehicle. —Paul Baumgartel, Stamford, Connecticut

I’ll keep on recycling, promoting degrowth and avoiding nonsense consumerism —David Caldevilla Collado, Oviedo

I’ll keep working on the life-saving transition to renewable energy. —Ruth Perkins, Peterborough, Ontario

I’ll do everything I can to change policies so that we can reduce or eliminate the use of fossil fuels. —Paul, Rochester, New York

Our new-to-us electric car will join millions of others in creating a cleaner environment. —Cindy Brown, Portland, Oregon

My orchard will keep offering an abundance of apples. —Bill Thorness, Chimacum, Washington

No matter who wins, you’ll continue to see the wonder in the world.

The mountains near my Colorado home remain stunningly, permanently, apolitically beautiful. —Trevor James, Placerville, Colorado

I will continue to support and build a strong and healthy spiritual community, which will help members develop the resilience to endure the challenges conditions present. —Sensei Morris Doshin Sullivan, Boston, Massachusetts area

There will still be beauty in the world. There will still be laughter. There will still be compassion and kindness. There will still be light in the heart and souls of people. —Marion Flanary, Spokane, Washington

My Buddhist community will continue to meditate every day, sending loving kindness to all, friends and family, strangers and even those who hate. We know everyone suffers and everyone wants happiness. —Zopa/Kathleen, Oregon

Love will continue being the strongest energy that heals everything! —Miguel Ángel, Gran Canaria Island, Spain

I will follow the Tao. —Ed Sharp, Oregon

I’ll continue to remind myself that the universe is a vast, mysterious and magical place. —Marfelous, California

I have a tree in my backyard that supports a whole community of fungi, insects and animals. —Trevor L. James, Colorado

No matter who wins, you’ll be okay.

I will not allow political ideology to pilot my emotions. —Eric Quinn Doyle, Eastern Pennsylvania

I will continue to live with faith rather than fear. —Mary, Brookings, Oregon

I will remain calm. —Freddie Hoskins, Louisville, Kentucky

I won’t give up. —Lea, New York

We’ll survive. —Judith Butt, Galloway Ridge, Pittsboro

Life goes on. —Laurel Swetnam, Portland, Oregon

Many thanks to all the readers who responded.

Scrolling image credits: Ashok Boghani, Kristy Johnson, William Andrus, Michael Day, Viktor Dobai, Ky0n Cheng, John Morgan, Schnella Schnyder, Dmitri Kotchetov, Dawn Endico, Tom Driggers

One Question, 109 Responses: No Matter Who Wins, _____________.

RTBC Staff

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