I’m going to say something bizarre. Something I never thought I’d say.

Thank you, Donald Trump.

In 2013 I had a double mastectomy. In 2020 an election. Breast cancer made me appreciate life in a completely different way than I ever did before. I feel that again tonight.

I realized you were just like that cancer - the disease we removed and are cured of - which has now given us new hope and appreciation. An ability to see clearly and know what is truly important that we might not have otherwise had.

I don’t know if my kids or their friends would have become as politically aware & engaged if you didn’t discriminate against the LGBTQ community and if you weren’t a racist and a climate change denier.

I don’t know if the women I’ve met would have marched & fought against sexism & misogyny or had the courage to stand up against abuse without your prominent example of it.

I don’t know that the fights of the resistance for equality, racial justice, healthcare, economic justice, environmental justice would have attracted so many brilliant people and beautiful voices if it wasn’t for your ignorance and blatant hatred.

I don’t know that the discrimination or plights of immigrants would have had such a spotlight shone on them if you weren’t ripping babies from their parents arms or banning human beings for their religious beliefs.

I do know that if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have such a deep and profound appreciation for the future we can have under a President that has empathy and understands love.

I have a renewed respect for our country and a renewed hope for what we can accomplish.

And a renewed will to participate in making that future happen.

So thank you for the wake up call. I’m looking forward to being rid of your cancerous presence.

#DemVoice1