Vote Early and with Passion

Early voting has begun. Here's why to VOTE NOW instead of waiting:

*Voter turnout is expected to be larger by magnitudes. If you wait until election day, you may face a multi-hour line at a time when you don't have two hours free to wait. If that happens, your candidate could lose your vote.

*Less confusion on election day is likely to mean less chance of errors and contested results.

*Early voting is quicker for you as a voter.

*Once you've voted, your candidate will spend less of his resources in trying to get your vote.

*Voting is exciting. Why wait? I talked with a Brazilian-born woman this morning who became an American citizen about a year ago. She's about to vote here for the first time, and is thrilled. I like her example. This is no time to take the right to vote for granted.

*Taking immediate action on behalf of your good cause is immensely satisfying, even good for the health. See (once again) The Healing Power of Doing Good by Allan Luks with Peggy Payne.

Here's how: info on your early voting polling places. (This is an Obama-sponsored site, but gives you your sites no matter who your candidate is.)

I'm voting tomorrow, Saturday, in the charming little town of Pittsboro, NC, county seat of rural Chatham. Lot of interesting stuff in that downtown: a store with French/African crafts, an excellent thrift shop, a retro drugstore. I plan to make an event of this outing.




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Gandhi Again--and a Thank You

One of the boldest and toughest bits of good advice I know, especially in a campaign season, is Gandhi's idea of working full-tilt and then, at the proper time emotionally letting go of the results.

In short: do the work and then step back.

I've written about this before here. I, for one, need to think about it again.

The campaign alone is causing me to throw down ridiculous numbers of snack-sized Three Musketeers. This is not helping anyone--outside of retailers and manufacturers of chocolate and I hope they appreciate my efforts. (I have a friend who is headfirst into not only chocolate, but butter-on-everything.)

Here's to giving one's best effort, alternating with periods of worry-free relaxing. It's not a bad time to start dividing the daffodils and such, for example. This is very good therapy for a cluttered head.

And now about the thank you. I want to say I appreciate the tolerance that non-Obama readers have shown here. I have been nigh-onto unrestrained in some of my political commentary. Y'all have handled my enthusiasm with considerable generosity. So I thank you for that.




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