Hillary Clinton Says News Is Difficult To Watch These Days

As hard as election night was for many across America, Hillary Clinton's unexpected Electoral College loss to Donald Trump must have been unimaginable for Clinton herself. Since that fateful November night, the presidential hopeful and former secretary of state has mostly secluded herself, staying away from the public eye and opting to only make a few appearances at various charity events, or speaking engagements (outside of her obvious requisite appearance at the inauguration in January). Supporters spotted her hiking in the woods during the weeks after the election, but Clinton has for the most part remained relatively quiet. Now, she's opening up about the painful aftermath of that historic election — more specifically, Clinton says watching the news is difficult for her these days, as it is for so many across the country.

Her supporters, of course, are thankful for it. Clinton spoke at a St. Patrick's Day event Friday, giving an inspirational speech while also remaining relatable. Talking to a crowd in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Clinton joked that she is "ready to come out of the woods" and to engage in society again. Her remarks were delivered to a room of about 500 women, at an event hosted by the Society of Irish Women.

Video footage of Clinton's speech shows that the politician, wife, and mother has seemingly taken on a more relaxed demeanor these days, regaining her traditional sense of humor and using it to comment on current events. "I'm ready to come out of the woods and to help shine a light on what is already happening around kitchen tables, at dinners like this," she said on Friday, as Essence reported.

And, as she has a tendency to do, Clinton once again set a remarkable example for young women everywhere. "I’m like a lot of my friends right now," she said. "I have a hard time watching the news, I’ll confess."

As far too many Americans know, the current news cycle seems to be nonstop commentary on the failing system of our nation's politics, government, and the people that run them. All things considered, Clinton's comments aren't that surprising, especially when you take into account the rising rate of mental health issues which began to spike following the election. It's a rough time in the United States, and Clinton is seemingly just as news-weary as the rest of us.

Watching the news may be difficult for all of us, but strong women can accomplish huge things when they put their minds to it. Hopefully, whatever Clinton does next — whether she continues her non-profit and advocacy appearances, attends more speaking engagements, or gets back to work in politics (or hey, maybe she just wants to retire from it all and dedicate her time to being a grandmother) — she'll continue to inspire generations of women more than ever. Having a good sense of humor and raw ability to speak honestly is a great start.