This isn’t a political post. It might seem like one. But that depends on the eyes and the lens with which you choose to read it. This is a post about humanity. About citizenship. About our rights and responsibilities in this great nation. This is a post from one human to another, hoping to appeal to all of us, regardless of where we fall on the political spectrum. Regardless of who we did or did not vote for. Regardless of our biases, our fears, our worries, or our convictions.

This is a post that asks you, as a person, to stop, reflect, and consider what comes next. Because what comes next is what will define us—and you—as individuals and as a nation. This election didn’t determine the fate of our country. We determine that. We have that power. That is what democracy and a Constitutional Republic are founded upon. It is up to us to decide what comes next and how we choose to behave in the coming months, years, decades.

Do not forget: this country was founded on the premise that the government works for us. We’ve had a tumultuous few years, and we are coming off an election that was pivotal, poignant, and a turning point. But regardless of what you won or lost, who you voted for or didn’t, the work doesn’t end on election day. The work is just beginning.

You want a better America? We all do, even if we don’t agree on what that looks like. But divisive vitriol and hatred won’t get us there. Now, more than ever, we need to put derision and hatred aside and come together. When you make a decision, ask yourself: Am I only thinking of myself, or am I considering my neighbor, my friend, my family, my butcher… in other words, am I thinking of the greater good?

Democracy and our government were based on the greater good, on limited government and the protection of minority rights. Our country was born from the desire for freedom from persecution and a lack of voice. It was founded on the belief that all men (and women) are created equal, with inalienable rights. We were once a proud nation of Enlightenment philosophy and high expectations. We held people accountable and loved our neighbors.

So, before you act, before you do anything else, take a moment. Reflect. Imagine the country you want to live in and be proud of. Imagine your neighbor, your friend, or the stranger you pass on the street. What makes a nation great? What makes us strong? Seriously consider how you can have an impact and choose to work for good. Make decisions out of hope and promise, not fear and despair. This nation isn’t defined by one person. Each of you has a place and a voice. Use it wisely.

We are all on this ride together, divided or not, and the destination is in our hands. Choose love over hate, compassion and empathy over anger and belittlement, action over passive aggression. Be a willing, noble participant in democracy. Don’t give up. Don’t walk away. Don’t lower your gaze.

Do not be afraid of what you don’t understand. Fear only leads to hate and breeds contempt. If something frightens you, face it—ask questions, seek understanding, learn. It is not for us to be judge, jury, and executioner. There are other worlds than this, and greater powers at work. Our role is to make good on the time we are given, to abide by the principles that guide us: love, honor, and value. The rest will sort itself out, if you believe in that. And if you don’t, there’s still the golden rule we all share: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

There is no God, no higher power, and no man who can or will excuse or condone hatred. The teachings of Jesus, of other prophets and religious figures, of parents, heroes, or guides in our lives have been clear: there is no justification for violence against another. We do not condone hate. We do not condone violence. Whatever our belief system or upbringing, each of us has been taught love at some point.

We are given free will to choose our path, and eventually, we will all be judged by what is in our hearts—whether by a higher power we believe in, or by the legacies we leave behind. With this free will, each of us must decide how we will act, how we will treat others, and what kind of world we wish to create.

Ultimately, it’s not about the beliefs we hold, but the way we live them out. Choose to be a force for good. Choose to rise above fear and meet the unknown with curiosity and courage. Because in the end, our actions define not just who we are, but the world we leave behind.