Gracious Reader,

This past Tuesday, the world seemed to be fixated on who America’s next leader would be.

**The Peaceable Kingdom** by Edward Hicks (1826) - A widely recognized allegory of unity and harmony, inspired by the biblical vision of Isaiah, showing diverse animals coexisting peacefully.

I, however, was preoccupied with something very different. An essential contractor had unexpectedly quit—again—from our nearly completed home restoration project (after a flood destroyed our home nearly two years ago). Losing him could set us back months, just when we were so close to moving back. The weight of this felt almost unbearable.

It’s the struggles closest to us that most affect our peace and fill us with worry. For me, getting back into our home is one of the most important things in my life right now. For others, it was the election and its outcome.

One reason so many feel such tension about election results is that we’re told the stakes have never been higher. It’s as if nothing matters more than making sure the right person, or the right policies, are in place.

But there’s a crisis tied to high-stakes politics that few are talking about. It's the heartbreaking toll of friendships and family bonds strained or even severed over political divides. During my book tour across five countries and over fifty cities, I heard this worry from readers and listeners time and time again.

That’s why I created a free resource for you: an eBook titled How to Survive—and Thrive!—During the 2024 Election Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Relationships). You can access it with my compliments at the link below.

Access the Election Toolkit!

If you've already downloaded and read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your story of personal division over politics and how this book may have helped you strengthen those bonds. Write to me with your feedback and reflections at ahudsonassist@gmail.com.

If you haven’t yet read the book but know the cost of personal division—as I do—I encourage you to download it now. Feel free to share it widely with others who may have cut off or been cut off due to political differences.

Thank you for being part of the Civic Renaissance community. I’m grateful for each of you and look forward to partnering on this journey of healing our deep divisions through curiosity and conversation in the days to come.

Warmly,
Lexi

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undefined — **"Morning in the Riesengebirge" by Caspar David Friedrich** – This landscape painting shows a lone wanderer gazing across a vast mountainous landscape at dawn. The emerging light and boundless vista evoke a profound sense of hope and possibility, suggesting a new day filled with potential.

Looking ahead:

November 12- Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce, Muncie, IN
November 14- Berry College, Mt. Berry, GA, Find out more here!
January 23, 2025- I am thrilled to announce that I will be speaking at Yale Law School this coming January, invited by the Crossing Divides Program, part of the Tsai Leadership Program, which is dedicated to building strong bridges across our differences.

In the news:

Honored to share this sermon series inspired by my book, The Soul of Civility.
The art of conversation: Books for going beyond conflict- Thank you to The Christian Science Monitor for including The Soul of Civility on this list! I'm honored to be featured alongside such impactful reads.
Five podcasts on democracy and pluralism you should listen to today
Blue Sky Podcast- Author Alexandra Hudson on Her Book, The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves
How to Be a Better Human Podcast: I loved talking with Chris Duffy on his excellent TED podcast about How to be civil even if you disagree (w/ Alexandra Hudson)
Civility is our eternal project- review of the soul of civility by the George W. Bush Center

Thank you for being part of our Civic Renaissance community!

A Year Ago on Civic Renaissance:

How to Act Amidst War: Cultivating Humanity Through Civility at Home

Review on Amazon

Review on barnsandnoble.com

Civic Renaissance with Alexandra Hudson

The Crisis No One is Talking About (plus a…