I watched the recent Presidential debate. While I was watching, someone responded to a Snapchat I shared about it and asked, “Who is winning?”

My response, “I don’t know but Americans are losing.”

In watching the debate, I felt many things. Sadness. Disgust. Frustration. Anger.

There are the things I didn’t feel but wish a Presidential Debate would inspire in me. Hope. Inspiration. Positivity. Excitement. There was none of that.

It didn’t matter which candidate or moderator was speaking, the disgust and frustration were consistent throughout the debate.

I kept thinking that I have no idea what is true anymore and I am tired. I’m tired of the games being played, the lack of transparency, and the lies.

Every situation has a truth. We might perceive it differently or play games with words to talk about things in the way that we wish it to be understood, but that doesn’t mean a bottom-line truth doesn’t exist.

These games are always played at someone’s expense. I’m tired of it being at the expense of the everyday citizen.

As much as I hate the games and lies at the national level, this way of living is seeping into the local level as well, making me even more exhausted by it all. It isn’t confined just to politics. This lack of transparency and lack of honesty has spread to nearly all facets of life.

Much like an invasive plant species that chokes out the native and good vegetation, this crooked way of life is choking out the good, honest way of life.

I’ve now stopped supporting three local non-profit organizations because of their dishonesty, lack of transparency, boards that don’t hold the staff accountable and poor treatment of staff by leadership.

Recent actions of some governmental agencies have led to my distrust of the government being at an all-time high. Being told one thing and then experiencing mismatched actions. Lack of accountability. Lack of transparency. It’s exhausting and is building a level of resentment in me that I am not fond of and must work hard to keep controlled or I risk becoming bitter.

It’s increasingly frustrating to be in the dating pool when there are so many games played. It is exhausting to try and decipher truth from lies and sincerity from insincerity.

I’m exhausted by people who take and take and feel entitled to receive more than they ever add back in value to society, the economy, their family, or elsewhere.

I’m worn out by continuous disappointment from people who commit to something and then don’t follow through, sticking someone else with their responsibilities.

It’s exhausting trying to help spread truths about topics I have knowledge of when people speak up with incorrect assumptions and opinions they spout as fact.

These behaviors are everywhere, and I’m tired of them. It is exhausting trying to decipher what the reality is behind every situation.

Am I living in a fantasy world hoping that we can turn the corner on this and get to a place where everyone is transparent and honest? I don’t want to become a bitter and cynical person and am working hard not to fall into that trap. I also don’t want to ignore all of this and live a life of oblivion because what is happening is wrong and I’ve always been one to want to make things better and I naturally turn to problem-solving. My circle of people I wholly trust, businesses I will shop at and non-profits I will support is growing smaller, and fast.

I do not like it, but I am not giving up. And neither should you.

Please help make it acceptable to bring to light these games people are playing. We are losing the battle of having a society rooted in transparency and truth.

Share your experiences. Get involved on a board and do the work to hold them accountable. Be willing to be the lone voice if you see something that needs attention. Always speak the truth. Do not let ugly behavior like lies, go without challenge. Be bold and be brave and help the everyday citizens start winning again.

Jackie Krawczak is president of Jackie Krawczak LLC. Her column runs every three weeks on Thursdays. Follow Jackie on Twitter @jkrawczak.