I VOTED..A MESSAGE TO MY CHILDREN

Thankfully the rainy days of Fall lend themselves to rest and regeneration. So here I sit compelled to write, coffee & fingertips at hand.

I turned 57 during election week. Like many older ladies my age, I have lived a full complex life with many experiences. When you reach this stage of life, most of us have held various vocations & advocations and have put up with a lot of Bullsh—💩

Experiences shape us into the multidimensional humans that we are, which impacts the way that each of us Vote. So goes my rant if you have the time…

I was raised Irish Catholic in a small Democratic mining town in southwest Montana🍀 The youngest of 8 in a single parent home, my Mom a hardworking elementary school teacher. My absentee Dad, a used car salesman. My home town is literally the birthplace of one of the first organized labor Unions founded June 1878!

After those tumultuous teenage years, I loaded my car and moved to Seattle at 19yrs old. Putting myself through College in the big city. Eating Ramen, studying science and eventually graduating with a BS from the University of Washington. For the first time, this shy rural girl found my voice. My mind blown by a big beautiful diverse world.

After college, I struggled to find work, spending more money on grad school and finally struck pay dirt. Spending the better part of sixteen years working in a mostly conservative-minded, male led global Fortune 500 medical sales environment….While also happily married 25 years to a proud Union Firefighter 🧑‍🚒 

With both of us having stressful careers and a desire to be home with my kids, I took some time off. Those were my healthiest years, both mentally and physically. Constantly immersed in nature, helping at school & learning how to care for our 100yr old farm organically. Seeing first hand the effects of a broken food system on public health, I chose to give my time over the next 8 years to support local food system projects in mostly liberal minded circles. Once again experiencing a wide range of beautifully diverse views & cultures. With kids in tow, I had found my passion. It was political and not an easy road to navigate, but I loved every minute!

Eventually forced to return to corporate sales, finding space in medical diagnostics research this time around. Working once again in a toxic stressful career. One that never loved me, but one that lucratively helped me get my worn out first responder hubby to retirement. For that I am grateful. Both of us beyond happy to have achieved that milestone earlier this year. As I reflect on my life experiences, the following is why I vote the way that I do….

1. Myself, like many others have experienced both sides of the isle over a lifetime of living. As a result, people like me have no tribe. I have always been a somewhat feisty, non conformist. Likely from fending off a gang of Type A older siblings, always telling me what to do. I have never truly felt like I fit in anywhere, not in my career, not in my volunteer work, not even in my own family. A black sheep, a perpetual outsider. A keeper of bees, I rarely follow the hive mind. Which leads me to ask…What ever happened to celebrating the free thinkers?🐝 

2. This is a challenge for people like me, because we Americans are now forced to pick the red or blue tribe period. There is no middle ground anymore. If we vote on a split ballot, we are somehow bad people, unloyal. Our family has a wide range of friends that are both Republican and Democrat. In today’s polarized climate, I only trust my closest friends with my deepest self, because they know my heart. Complete strangers do not know who we are deep down and therefore are less tolerant of our choices. Following social media is superficial and not the same as really knowing someone. As I learned in sales 101, always seek to understand. Which leads me to ask…What happened to choosing leaders based on their experience & merit, not their religion or party?☮️

3. In my late 40s, having spent time in almost every denomination in town, our family gave up organized religion altogether. Primarily because we became saddened by the ongoing political narrative infiltrating christianity over the last decade. I simply no longer felt that my children were safe there. The horrible rhetoric that my fellow Christian’s were supporting was beyond shocking. We gave our children a foundation with as many experiences as possible, so that they can choose their own path, true to their own individuality. We need no man or woman to stand between our deepest self and our spiritual beliefs. And there is absolutely no place for politics in that sacred space. Our farm is now our church. Which leads me to ask…Whatever happened to God wanting spiritual fruits, not religious nuts?🐓

4. As a high energy, deep feeling person, I tend to overreact. So I have worked hard through years of therapy to temper my emotions when making decisions. Having done my share of campaigning and embarrassing myself in front of powerful people over the years, I am deeply afraid to speak up anymore. Despite years of sales training and the gift of gab, my days of going before council and serving on community boards are over. Speaking on importance of healthy ecosystems, humane animal husbandry and the biology of soil should not be polarizing topics, but sadly everything seems to be these days. Having been screamed at, degraded and bad mouthed by all sides. I now chose to hide behind my gate and no longer put myself out there. Sharing your inner self is a dangerous game. If the self righteous happen to hear you, it could cost you in devastating ways. Which leads me to ask…What ever happened to the days of tolerating each other and celebrating diverse viewpoints? 💕

Bottom line, although we need them, I believe that most politicians, religious leaders and powerful people in our communities are full of crap and the very inspiration behind my stinky vote sign. I have gotten acquainted with several of them with my local outreach work and have learned that most (not all) are in it for themselves. So let’s stop fighting over these fools. The loss of friends and family over the last decade still haunts me.

So what does this all mean and why bother writing about it? Well after spending this election week traveling to/from Montana spending time with my elderly mother & with my bestie, both amazing educated women with opposite political viewpoints. Two female educators coming from their own set of life experiences. I finally realized that my personal views over the last few years now fall somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. Our reciprocal, female relationships run deeper than any political narrative and those are worth preserving.

I returned home to my family, reviewing candidates & initiatives one by one. Having long thoughtful discussions with our children as we filled out our ballots. My twenty something college age son making his own informed decisions, choosing to lean one direction while also voting a split ticket. An environmental science major, we love this young man for all of his inner goodness, regardless of how he marks his ballot. Resist the temptation to indoctrinate your kids to religion or politics…We desperately need the next generation to think on their own!

A Message To My Children:

Voting is your right even if the outcome is not what you had hoped for. Political figures are not who any of us should be looking up to. Especially polarizing figures who seek to divide us. You are surrounded by decent men & women who are good role models. Be they a teacher, a firefighter, a public servant, a friend..Always look for the helpers!

Learning to keep a safe distance from humans who we deem unsafe for our mental well being is a lesson best learned when young. Never develop an opinion about someone based on another persons view. Gossip is very damaging. Seek to always understand others through your own eyes.

Finding your own spiritual path that speaks to your soul is important. Never let anyone tell you how to think or feel. Diversity is beautiful in all living things, the world was never meant to look the same.

Always plant seeds for the future, be intentional, & stand up for the vulnerable. But most of all…Turn off the noise, respect thy neighbor and be true to yourself. 🇺🇸🌸🌎

#takecareteam #democracy #godblessamerica #unity #kindness #loveoneanother #peace #respectwomen #celebratediversity #separatechurchfromstate #betheexample #forourkids #forourfuture