Everything Has Changed, Yet Nothing Has Changed: Don’t Panic

It is hard to overstate the impact of this American election; it will change everything, everywhere. From the functioning of democracy within the United States to its influence and perception abroad, the effects will be profound. People in Utah, Ukraine, Uruguay, and even Uganda will feel its repercussions. There is no place on the planet that will remain untouched in one way or another. As Mark Twain once noted, “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.”

Yet, at the individual level, things remain unchanged. No matter who is in power, our duty stays the same: to be good people—citizens, parents, friends, neighbors, and professionals. We must fulfill our responsibilities as decent human beings and resist giving in to fear and cynicism. Living with virtue, truth, justice, and compassion is essential. We should strive to be positive role models and make a small difference every day, as much as we can, without excuse.

The only things we control are the stories we choose to believe and the actions we take. We cannot control the rest, so it is not worth wasting time or troubling ourselves with what others do or the overall outcome.

Historical figures like Socrates, who maintained his integrity during the Rule of the Thirty Tyrants, and Epictetus, who upheld his philosophy as a slave during Nero’s reign, exemplify this steadfastness. We must do the same today, tomorrow, and every day thereafter for as long as we can.

So, yes, everything has changed—and yet, nothing has changed. Our duty remains the same.

Finally, never forget Douglas Adams’ profound insight about the absurdity of our Universe. So, keep your sense of humor, embrace the fact that we are just tiny, insignificant beings on a small blue planet orbiting an unremarkable star in the vastness of the universe, always know where your towel is, and most importantly:

“Don’t Panic!”