Well, we made it. Election Day! After months of political ads, campaign signs, unsolicited text messages, and enough social media opinions to last us until 2047, we've finally arrived. I'm not sure about you, but I'm looking forward to opening my phone without someone telling me democracy depends on whether I respond to their text message.
I've been thinking quite a bit about how quickly we form opinions about people, especially when it comes to politics. We discover who someone supports, what they believe, or how they voted, and suddenly we think we know everything we need to know about them. It's fascinating, really. We can spend years getting to know someone, appreciating their character, enjoying their company, and building a friendship. Then one political conversation has us questioning the entire relationship.
I've experienced this myself. I've had conversations with people who see the world very differently than I do. People with whom I disagree on some pretty significant issues. Yet some of those same people are among the most generous, thoughtful, and compassionate individuals I've met. They're incredible parents, devoted spouses, loyal friends, and people who would drop everything to help someone in need. Had I allowed our disagreements to define those relationships, I would have missed out on knowing some pretty awesome people.
I wonder how often we allow our opinions about people to get in the way of actually knowing them.
Today, millions of Americans cast their votes. Some will celebrate the results, others will be disappointed, and approximately 100% of us will be ready for the political commercials to stop. But regardless of the outcome, I've been wrestling with a question that I think deserves our attention: When did disagreeing with someone become a reason to stop caring about them?
At Glidewell, we have the privilege of serving people from all walks of life. Different backgrounds, beliefs, experiences, and perspectives. We don't ask our clients who they voted for, which political party they support, or whether they agree with us on the latest issue making headlines. We ask about their families, their businesses, their goals, and the things that keep them up at night. We want to understand what matters most to them so we can help protect it.
Our philosophy is pretty simple: Insurance is the tool. Health is the goal.
That philosophy is about much more than selling insurance policies. It's about recognizing that behind every policy is a person, and behind every person is a story. It's about helping people experience greater financial security, healthier lives, and a little more peace of mind. And it's about understanding that our responsibility to care for people doesn't begin or end with an insurance transaction.
Our values at Glidewell are Care. Purpose. Results. Three words that are easy to put on a wall, print on a shirt, or include in a presentation. Living them out, however, requires something more. It requires us to care about people even when it's inconvenient, even when there's nothing in it for us, and yes, even when we disagree with them.
Here’s the thing. It's pretty easy to care about people who think exactly like we do. The real test comes when they don't.
I think about the relationships I've built over the years, both personally and professionally. Some of the people who have challenged my thinking the most have also helped me grow the most. Not because we eventually agreed on everything, but because we were willing to listen, ask questions, and respect one another enough to have an actual conversation. Imagine that! Two people disagreeing without immediately unfriending each other. Apparently, it can be done.
And maybe that's something we could all use a little more of.
I'm not suggesting we abandon our convictions, compromise our values, or pretend our differences don't matter. They do. There are important issues facing our communities and our country, and we should care deeply about them. But I also believe we can hold strong convictions without losing our compassion. We can stand firmly for what we believe while still treating people who disagree with us with dignity and respect.
Tomorrow morning, regardless of the election results, we're all going to wake up and continue doing life together. We'll live in the same neighborhoods, shop at the same grocery stores, attend the same community events, and cheer for the same teams. Well, most of us. I'm still not sure I can fully trust a Green Bay Packers fan, but I'm working on it.
And when someone in our community experiences a tragedy, receives a difficult diagnosis, loses a job, or simply needs someone to show up for them, I hope our first thought isn't about their political affiliation. I hope it's about how we can help.
Because the truth is, our character isn't defined solely by what we believe. It's also revealed in how we treat people who believe differently.
So today, participate in the process. Be thoughtful about your decisions. Stand by your convictions. And give others the freedom and respect to do the same.
But when the polls close, the votes are counted, and the campaign signs finally come down, let's not forget that some of the most meaningful opportunities we have to make a difference don't happen in a voting booth. They happen in our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and everyday interactions.
At Glidewell, we'll continue doing what we believe matters most: caring for people, serving with purpose, and working toward results that genuinely improve lives. Not because of how someone votes, but because of who they are.
While we may not agree on every candidate, policy, or political issue, I hope we can agree on this:
People matter. Relationships matter. How we treat one another matters.
Not just on Election Day, but every single day.
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