As You Head Over The Hills and Through The Woods

[TXvote]

Dear All,

As we gather with family and friends in a glorious multitude of diverse groupings, I want you to know that my thoughts and blessings are with you. This has been a tough year, but we have much to be grateful for.

I would like to note a particular blessing, one that is based in the challenges this administration has forced upon us. I have watched millions of people galvanized around the world calling for peace in the steeets before a single bomb was dropped. I have participated in countless conversations about issues as diverse as free trade and fair elections. And what I have seen growing since last Thanksgiving is amazing. Who would have ever imagined that the NRA and Moveon would join forces to battle against consolidated media ownership? That intelligence officers would call on the administration publically to act responsibly? That the families of active military would stand with Veterans Against War and demand honest information about deployments and troop safety? In the face of adversity we have found the most precious gift of all; the common ground we share as humans outside of party affiliations, outside of preconceptions. It as if the dam has broken and everyone has come out to stand shoulder to shoulder piling sandbags to protect our homes. Not the best way to meet our neighbors, but a bonding experience that will have lasting effect on our community.

It would be easy to point out all the ways we are still divided. It is our nature to dwell on what is wrong. When we were living in caves, we needed to focus on what goes wrong in the world. That is what kept us alive. I believe our biggest challenge in the modern world is to learn to focus on what we are doing right. In fact, it may be those things we are doing right that save this planet. It certainly could not do any harm to practice focusing on the good in the world, however small, however faint, and treasuring it dearly.

Aside from this insight I want to encourage you to have some fun. Whever you are gathered, there is bound to be at least one person that is, in fact, a VoterVirgin. Maybe it is that uncle that never votes because it's "stupid". Maybe it's your newly come of age sibling. Maybe it's someone you know has stayed away from the polls recently (a re-instated VoterVirgin). Maybe it's YOU. Whoever it is, I ask you to make their VoterVirgin-ity a conversation over dinner. Won't your family and friends be surprised when, instead of preaching or ranting or defending your position on the latest political broohaha, you simply state "Hey Uncle Bob, I just figured out you are a virgin. A VoterVirgin, that is". This is guaranteed to get you a laugh and start a stimulating conversation no matter what your family's political belief system is. Log on to www.votervirgin.com and get them to take the pledge to vote. Heck, maybe even spring for a t-shirt so they can flaunt their VoterVirgin-ity. We could all use a smile over the holidays.

Peace,
Teresa
www.votervirgin.com