"I feel nothing" and "I am empty inside" are common phrases of the internet depressed. Search for a half a second and you will find millions of tweets that are along the same lines. Last night's election elicited a million more. Last night, America decided that racism, sexism, and bigotry do not disqualify you from the White House. Progress in America was halted with the election of a man who only serves himself. That names anything he has ever "made", Trump. For many, this has led to a hollow feeling, the promise of hope now leaving the White House, packing their bags and vacating their rooms. But I, unlike that house on Pennsylvania ave, am not empty, I feel everything.

I feel disappointed that our country is allowing this, I feel sad for those whose rights may now be expelled by the current regime, I feel mad that racism won, the scourge of our society rejoicing in Donald Trumps victory. I feel enraged that millions will now feel unsafe knowing people they have to associate with every day may despise them. I feel uneasy that one of the singular greatest threats to humanity will now be in the hands of a man who believes it's a hoax. But most of all, I feel disappointed that this country is not what I have thought it was.

As a white, straight, male living in California I have been given the ultimate luxury of not experiencing racism. Hate of that kind is as unwelcome as a rainy day, or at least as absent. So, when watching a man who demoralizes women, denigrates those of other races, and lies through his teeth on just about anything, I assume a landslide victory is in order. I was naive, I didn't do enough, and I didn't recognize what is out there. This is why the election hit me like a ton of cheap Trump hotel bricks.

My initial reaction was, "what's the point?" All the progress that we have been making as a country taken away by one election. All the power given to a man who has been accused of rape 3 times, who had over 12 women come out and say that he touched them without consent. Who hasn't used his own money for a charity he owns for over 16 years, used money FROM a charity to buy a large painting of himself. Knows NOTHING about policies, and said a Mexican-American judge couldn't do his job because he is Hispanic. But none of this mattered. None of it was enough. I was in a depressed stupor for 16 hours, then I gained clarity.

Work needs to be done and fighting for what's right is never easy. Setbacks like this have occurred over and over again. If those fighting up and left, the world would be as dark as it was hundreds of years ago. This terrible election has made me realize that progress does not just occur as time moves on. Just like the seemingly inevitable doom is not so inevitable, nothing is automatic until it happens. Trump and his band of goons can not destroy the country or the world one blow to society at a time. We, as a culture, need to make sure every single second is an excruciating fight for what's right.

Instead of spending that monthly fee for the gym that you never go to, spend it on a group that fights for the environment like the Sierra club. Attend protests, vote more than just once every 4 years, and have conversations with those who do not deem equality as important as the amount of tax dollars they have to pay.  The financial welfare is important, don't get me wrong, but it should not come at the expense of our principles as a nation. The men we appoint to "fix" the country should not be the same men who belittle those they are trying to put food on the table for. Do not let your heart be filled with hate for those who do not see things the same way you do. Do not burn flags, end relationships, or get violent. They are not all terrible people.

For the Republicans who may be reading this, if what I have described does not represent you, then prove it. Prove you won't stand for what has been displayed over the last year. Enact your fiscal and foreign policies without allowing for societal setbacks. Prove that you are not who we thought you were, you have a lot to prove. Millions have been deeply hurt because of what you haven't.

This election will cause some to even lose that passion and desire to stand up for those without a voice. Hollowing out those who have been filled with such motivation and empowerment. Do not feel empty, feel everything. Feel every emotion that you felt on Election Day for the rest of your life and NEVER let it stop motivating you to stand up for what you believe in. This is who we are in the present, it's undeniably true, do not let it be who we are in the future. Stay involved, stay informed, and fight.