by Kathryn Good, Inspire Kindness
It’s November 2020. To finish up a crazy year, the 11th month of 2020 brings us a presidential election.
At Southwestern Family of Companies, we have a strong statement of purpose. If you work here, you can probably recite some of it—if not all of it—by memory. The root of this purpose is that we invest, we inspire, and we impact. These are not just verbs for us; invest, inspire, and impact are part of our culture, our belief system. And right now, they matter more than ever. This season can create stress and division, but consider these tips as we navigate the upcoming election:
- Watch Your Stress
- Inspire Kindness
- Vote
Watch Your Stress
Disagreements with family, friends, and coworkers happen. Arguments, even within the same political party, can be heated. Plus, during months of quarantine, it has been easy to watch or read the news too much or just decide not to care. A year like this can lead to stress, strained relationships, and unhealthy behaviors. Your health and strong connections with family and friends are essential and can benefit from the following actions:
- Be Grateful—see the good in the world.
- Rest—take a break from the news.
- Resist—avoid or walk away from charged conversations.
- Remember—life will go on no matter what happens.
Inspire Kindness in Conversations
No matter what happens, we get to choose our reaction, and we ask you to be kind. Our company’s roots are in Bible sales. Luke 6:27 says: “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” You can inspire kindness in conversations when you:
- Check your facts.
- Compliment the other side.
- Resist cheap digs.
- Seek to unify rather than divide.
- Think before you speak (or post).
Vote
If you are a US Citizen and haven’t already voted, please do so tomorrow, November 3, 2020. Voting is our civic duty and responsibility. Southwestern Family of Companies is grateful to be headquartered in the city of Nashville in the state of Tennessee in the country of the United States of America. We are honored to be able to invest, inspire, and impact on an increasingly global level and hope that you will go to the polls and vote.
Remember:
Take care of yourself.
Be kind.
Go vote.
