The day after a big election always leaves me feeling hung-over. I stayed up too late, eating my daughter's Halloween candy (shhh, don't tell!) and refreshing the local paper's election results page every 2 minutes or so. As with most of the country, the races here were tighter than David Bowie's costume in Labyrinth. And there were several upsets.

It was a real nail biter. I looked like this for most of the night:

I'm freaking out!

I was, for the most part, hugely disappointed with the outcome.

That being said, man am I thankful I live in a democratic republic. Thank whatever god you choose to worship or ignore that in this country leadership is determined by the ballot and not the bullet. Thank the founders that in a few years we can throw 'em all out and try again.

American citizens have been given a gift through the sacrifice of our forefathers at the birth of our great nation. The gift of a voice. This is not inconsequential. It is easy to get disheartened and disillusioned. It is easy to say it doesn't matter anyway, things will never change.

Things will never change. Unless we make the decision to change them. And then put in the work to do so.

Exercising your right to vote is the smallest step in process of change. The rest requires a good deal of hard work and dedication. But aren't you worth it? Isn't your family worth it? Your friends? Your neighbors? Your children and grandchildren?

I'm here to tell you this: You are worth it. Each and every one of you. Whether we agree or disagree. You are welcome, in fact encouraged, to come to the table and make this a better world.

What's stopping you?

Shannara Gillman lives in Bar Harbor, Maine.