Out of My Comfort Zone

I am so far out of my comfort zone these days I have trouble remembering what it feels like. I keep reminding myself that it's good to stretch and try things that scare you. It doesn't seem like the reminding changes my reactions though.

I hate calling strangers. Even more I hate calling strangers to ask them for something. It's a struggle to pick up the phone and dial. My stomach gets butterflies everytime I call a new number on my list. They subside a bit when I get an answering machine. They surge when I get someone who is pissed that I'm calling. The go away entirely when I get a friendly person on the other end of the line.

I'm going to be canvassing this weekend and that is soooooooooooooooo not anything I'm comfortable doing. At least on the phone you can't see one another. At least you can hang up if you need to. And it's safer than knocking on a stranger's door.

But this moment is too important for me to sit on the sidelines and not try to do something useful. I don't want to look back and wish that I'd stepped up to the plate and set aside my own fears and discomforts. I don't want to tell my children, "You can't change things. You have no power."

Our son feels involved. He is contributing by putting stickers on postcards or stamping them. Our two-year-old daughter likes to 'help' as well. They are both contributing by playing quietly when I make phone calls or by giving other volunteers a laugh or smile. They contribute when they come along to pick up or drop off voter registration forms. They are contributing because they and the futures I want for them inspire me to try and push through and do just a little bit more.

So I may not be comfortable but I am growing and learning. And, most importantly, I am actively working to create the world I wish to live in and the world I dream of for my children and all the other children in the world. What are a few butterflies compared to that?

The Fierce Urgency of I'm Too Busy

I've never volunteered in an election before so I totally understand when people say they're not comfortable or too busy or whatever other reason or excuse they have for not volunteering. Or at least I did.

This time around the election is just too important. We cannot afford to let this opportunity pass us by. We cannot afford McCain/Palin. I believe that with all my heart. If I didn't I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing.

So when I get response after response of "well I'm really too busy but I'll be voting for him," I get frustrated. Then I chastize myself. After all I know what it's like to be busy and I know that participating in the grunt work of a campaign is very low on most people's to-do lists (hell it usually is on mine as well). I'm really struggling with this. I understand but I don't. So much is at stake.

I know I'm not the only one who feels passionate about this race, far from it. Yet some of the most vocally passionate and fired up people I know are doing nothing. Some are donating money and that's great if they're able to and it's a valid contribution but right now we need people's time, their energy, their help. I hear people talk about how much they like Obama and how great it'll be when he's President but folks he's not President yet. He's still trying to get the votes!

Please, the time for action is now. If you an spare ten minutes and a few bucks buy some snacks for the volunteers and drop them off at a coordinator's house or campaign office. If you can spare two hours phonebank or address postcards. If you can spare four hours go canvass or do more phonebanking. It's not over until it's over. We need you!