Opinion: I’m disappointed by Trump’s win, but not helpless or hopeless

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, at approximately 11 p.m. PST, I was standing outside of my friend’s apartment in the Pacific Heights neighborhood in San Francisco. I was huffing a Parliament Light and had consumed about a bottle and a half of wine in an attempt to grapple with the reality that, to everyone’s surprise, even his own, Donald Trump had beaten Hillary Clinton to win the presidency.
At the time, I was the director of global sales development for a B2B Saas Marketing company, living in San Francisco and about a month out from moving to Brooklyn with absolutely zero thought of political or media work as a possible career change.
Yet, despite not knowing much about politics and not contributing my money, time or energy to a single election, I was devastated. I know I was gutted because I can still go back and read my 800-word Facebook essay I wrote in response (reminder that the internet is forever) where my dramatic ending includes a proclamation about my motivation, “To do more than I have done.” 
Fast forward to Nov. 5, at approximately 11 p.m. CST: I had just wrapped up election night coverage at WTMJ 620AM where each time we refreshed nationwide election results, it was looking not only worse for Kamala Harris but Democrats across the country. I went home to my husband, had one glass of bourbon (and zero cigarettes) before asking him to turn off election coverage so we could watch an episode of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and laugh a little before going to bed and dealing with the inevitable feelings in the morning. 
I share these two plot points in my life because the latter doesn’t happen without the former. Trump being elected in 2016 changed the trajectory of my life. Had he not won, I would not have quit working in tech, I would have never moved back to Wisconsin and I certainly would not be as knowledgeable and involved in politics and government as I am today. 
Had he not won, I wouldn’t have this column or a daily radio show. I wouldn’t have met my husband, which means I also would not be my daughter’s mother.
Had he not won, I wouldn’t be surrounded, both professionally and personally, by people who give a damn. I wouldn’t work with journalists who do the painstaking work of local and state reporting in a swing state. I wouldn’t have multiple friends who are elected officials, candidates, or some other sort of civil servant. I wouldn’t have a community of people who have my values and my commitments. 
I don’t share this anecdote because I’m trying to say “my life is better because Donald Trump was president and maybe that will happen this time around!” 
I share this as a reminder that good things can happen when you choose to be active and involved in moving the world to be closer to the one you hope to live in. 
Those good things can be personal and professional but they can also be attributes like “perseverance.”  Because, when I compare my reaction in 2016 to 2024, I think the reason I was less distraught this time around is because I don’t feel helpless or hopeless.
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I woke up Wednesday incredibly sad but also knowing that my role is to continue to share accurate information that provides context and humor. I also woke up knowing that I have a ton of people in my life who believe that just because we can’t save everything doesn’t mean we don’t work to save anything. 
It’s also worth remembering that there is a consequential Wisconsin Supreme Court election in six months and midterms are in two years. Everyone can play a part should they choose to accept it. 
And I woke up knowing this advice from Howard Zinn, “Don’t look for a moment of total triumph. See it as an ongoing struggle, with victories and defeats, but in the long run the consciousness of people growing. So you need patience, persistence, and need to understand that even when you don’t “win,” there is fun and fulfillment in the fact that you have been involved, with other good people, in something worthwhile.” 
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So whether you are someone who is celebrating or grieving last week’s election results, remember that national elections are only one place where we express our values and we exert our political power. There are countless ways to show up and help and make a difference — at PTO meetings, school boards, city council, volunteering, etc.
Maybe this election will be your reason to get off the bench like it was for me eight years ago. Maybe you have been involved and engaged for longer than you can remember. No matter where you are on that spectrum, we all should remember that the only way forward is through positive action. 
Kristin Brey is the “My Take” columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.