I Voted

I just got back from casting my ballot for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. It was quicker and easier than I imagined it would be. (Less than 45 minutes door-to-door.) I know this won’t be true for everyone and that makes me sad, frustrated, and disappointed.

And also, if ever there was a time when some of us had room in our calendars to wait, it is now. Right? What are we all in a hurry to do? Scroll on Instagram? Check out Facebook? Respond to emails? Jump on another Zoom call?

There are things more important than voting, but that list is short. We wait in line for drive-through Starbucks. We wait in line at Disneyland. We wait in line for restrooms at ACL and to see famous artwork at the Louvre. Waiting isn’t always the most fun part of something, but it’s okay to wait.

Here’s a little secret. I’ve never voted early before. In the last 2 elections, I showed up on the day. Thinking back, that might be because I didn’t know there was another option? I’m really not sure.

The volume has been turned way up when it comes to political conversations. It can be annoying, frustrating, downright disheartening, but also… I’m not mad that more people seem to care now about what’s at stake than any time in my adult life.

Politics are overwhelming and complex, but we are smart and capable of understanding nuance. We can determine what feels right, true, and honest for each of us. I’m annoyed that politics has become such a touchy, touché topic. I honestly think that’s a symptom, not the disease.

Our collective ability to connect and communicate, empathize with and care for our neighbors seems to have atrophied. This year has taught us so much about rest and resiliency. The pandemic put everything on pause. It brought us down to our knees. Truly challenging situations have a way of demanding our attention and shifting our perspective. That’s what 2020 has done for so many.

One thing that has always left me feeling weird and shaky about voting is all the questions. “How do I find time to do the research? How do I know who I can trust? What are the issues? What do I believe in? Why is this all so confusing?”

My comfort-level has grown with each voting experience. Learning to listen to and trust my intuition has also helped. Doing any research is helpful. Tune into yourself for a minute and ask what it is that you need to feel prepared and ready to vote. It’s probably less than you think.

Here are two links that helped me feel ready to vote. They are very specific to Austin, Texas where I live. If you’re not local I encourage you to seek out the information that will help you feel educated and empowered to vote.

First, I read through this Voter’s Guide by the League of Women Voters of Texas & League of Women Voters Austin Area. Second, I checked the wait times at the polls before leaving home.

If you’re looking for a more informative and encouraging resource, I really like how Hitha Palepu shares on Instagram and her newsletter. She’s a mom, entrepreneur, investor, and curator of news on her daily series #5SmartReads. I appreciate her perspective and if you’re not already following her, she’s worth checking out.

I hope you go vote, friends, and I hope that it goes smoother and easier than you imagined.