Leading up to the election, pundits and wags confidently explained to us who would win. They do this every four years to provide us all with information, of course, not sensationalize a story to fill hours upon hours of airtime with space for commercials.

The nation needed to see how various zip codes near Philadelphia were voting, and we needed to see it using the latest technology as part of our civic duty.

Back in 2016, I started coverage on election night at a Republican watch party in Fort Worth because the pundits and wags confidently explained Hillary Clinton would win the election. Giovanni Capriglione, a Republican state representative, explained regardless of who wins in Washington, they would still go back to Austin and pass laws.

Then on my way to the Democrats’ party, Donald Trump started winning more states, so by the time I got there, Democrats were realizing Trump would win. You know what Democratic Congressman Marc Veasey told me? Regardless of who wins, they had to go back to Washington and pass laws.

People were scared after that election. We’re scared now because of the insurrection at the Capitol after 2020.

But the vast majority of Donald Trump voters understand the insurrection was wrong. They might have chosen him because they think he’s the better option on the economy or defense. The same applies to Kamala Harris. The vast majority of her supporters knew rioting after George Floyd was wrong, but they might have thought she had the stronger position on abortion or immigration.

A smaller percentage of us actually showed up than four years ago, but the editorial board here at 1 Scaianalysis Esplanade understands why people need a break to gather our collective thoughts. We would also argue, though, we can still be hopeful for the nation.

I texted an associate while watching Colbert the other night to express dismay about his whole monologue consisting of him feeling sad. We started crafting the proper monologue.

“I want to hire the public relations firm who makes a convicted felon look like the right guy to run the free world,” we would have said dryly as Paul Shaffer repeats in the background, “free world. Ha! Here’s a little free world music.”

We can still believe in ourselves and believe in the country. We can still be positive about the future because so many of us are looking out for each other regardless of politics.

This week, I was at a house in Grand Prairie where a company had remodeled the bathroom for a couple who met in the Army. The husband was injured while he was deployed and also, like some of us, dealt with a traumatic brain injury. The volunteers were happy to help; the veterans are glad people are still thinking of them so long after the wars.

Then I adjourned to the QT at Bush Turnpike and I-20. There, a gentleman was going from gas pump to gas pump offering his exciting jazz album [with elements of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, he assured me] for just three dollars. I didn’t buy one, but a man doesn’t cut an album and pitch himself to people filling their gas tank unless he believes in his future.

I understand why some of us are excited; I understand why some of us are concerned. But instead of mourning, we can focus on the positive we still have in our lives.

And I also understand how shocking it can seem to us, as a nation, when I become the voice of reason.