#14. None of us wants to fight

It’s an election year and spirits are high. Unfortunately, a lot of that energy is hateful. But thankfully and hopefully, there’s a lot of love, too.

I’m a passionate person. In election years, I sometimes get a little too excited.

I remember back in 2008 being maniacal about electing Barack Obama. There was one conversation I had with a good friend of mine that I regret to this day. I took it too far, embarrassed myself and yelled at someone I care about.

I didn’t insult him or use expletives — an accomplishment for me — but I remember getting really hot under the collar. Thankfully, there was no irreparable damage.

We’ve never since discussed that conversation.

I haven’t had any of those type of conversations this election cycle. And even though there are still about one-hundred days left until the election, I don’t plan on having any of them.

Opinions are strong in politics and sometimes they manifest themselves in anger and vitriol towards the other side, regardless of who might be on the other side. And we all know people on the other side. Some of them are close friends or family.

But I’ve chosen to heed the advice that in (polite) company we’re taught to never talk about religion, politics, sex, or money, all provocative topics.

While I’m not sure that’s exactly the healthiest way to approach this season — difficult conversations are important to have so you can listen to dissenting opinions — I think the landscape’s a little too volatile right now. At least from what I read on Facebook, the place to go for reality.

A nice consequence of absolving myself from discussing politics in these conversations is that, while I still have some expectation said chat will devolve into a series of snarky comments or an argument, they simply haven’t. In fact, quite the opposite. It’s been business as usual. And that’s refreshing.

It’s nice to not get worked up and enjoy my friends for being just that… my friends.