While watching election results pour in Tuesday, some probably heard some things they didn't want to hear.
But the speeches delivered that night by the winner and the loser are worth hearing again and again.
John McCain gave what arguably was the best speech of his campaign after it was already over, and Barack Obama expressed sentiments most presidential candidates have avoided for decades.
Obama made it clear that we as a nation all have work ahead of us, and the theme was complemented by McCain's appeal for unification.
McCain's concession was heartfelt and inspiring in a way few of his speeches have been in this election season. He was finally able to personally connect with his audience, as Obama has done for months.
McCain also made a sincere call for unity and respect in his 10-minute speech. This attitude was barely recognizable during the Republican's divisive campaign, which attacked everyone from his rival to the media and many others who threatened his appeal to voters.
This latest approach looked good on McCain, and it likely would have helped him had he shared more of that a few months ago. The moderation he espoused in his speech was reminiscent of the old McCain we saw in the 2000 presidential race.
When Obama took the stage, millions of viewers expected a goosebump-inducing address after a campaign season of charismatic and passionate appeals.
Obama's victory speech offered a similar graciousness to McCain's, but his speech also included something he has brought up before but that has new significance after the election: a call for sacrifice.
Obama ran on a platform of "we" and "us," always emphasizing the importance of every citizen working toward a better nation.
"I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation," he said during his speech. "It cannot happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other."
Obama made it sound as though sacrifice and work is akin to being a good citizen, a sentiment that many politicians have avoided. The favored approach for the last few decades has been characterized by candidates telling Americans whatever they want to hear.
The hard-line approach hasn't been used on such a large stage by a president since Jimmy Carter, who gave his infamous "malaise" speech at a time of familiar economic and energy woes. The speech, which asked citizens for help in turning the country around, was received unfavorably.
John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, though, told citizens to consider what they could do for their country, and Obama's call for the aid of Americans echoed that.
Obama was elected on a campaign that promoted hard work toward change. Now is the time for those who cast ballots for him to do what he urged in his victory speech, to give of themselves for the good of the whole.
And it is time for McCain supporters to do what he urged in his concession speech, to offer "our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together."
The same community outreach tactics that got Obama elected now need to be used to improve the country he represents. Small community organizations went a long way to help his campaign, and now they can go a long way to help our nation improve.
Above all, we must enter this new administration and new era with a willingness to work.
If we do, as Obama said, "We as a people will get there."
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