If you’ve watched one minute of television over the past month, I know you’ve been inundated with political commercials.  This candidate is shady, this candidate wants to end social security or increase social security, this candidate wants to raise taxes or lower taxes, this candidate wants to open our borders, this candidate wants to close our borders, this candidate hates old people, or young people, or women, or men.   I don’t know about you, but I simply tune them all out.  And it completely disgusts me when I think about how much money is being spent on these commercials, only to have them ignored.  Same goes for the flyers that come in my mail every day.  I deposit them directly into the recycle bin, typically with no more than a glance.  

On November 3rd, one of the most important general elections in the history of our country is going to occur.  ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?  If not, you can click here to do it online. 

If you think you are already registered, please take a moment to click here to make sure.

This is not about whose side you’re on.  It’s not about left or right, conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican.   I have neither the intention nor the desire to convince anybody that my political opinions are correct, nor do I have any intention to call anybody out when I disagree with them.  (Believe me, I’ve learned this lesson the hard way.)

Instead, I want to write a paragraph about gratitude.  I am thankful that I live in a free country where I have access to everything and anything I could possibly need or want (well, maybe not hand-sanitizer or toilet paper right now).  The United States is not a perfect country, by any measure, but it’s better than any other country in the world, and I’m grateful to be a citizen.  As a citizen, I have both the privilege and the obligation to vote. 

Now, more than ever before, I believe my vote matters.  And I believe yours does too. 

Please make a plan about how you’re going to vote, whether by mail, early in person, or in person on election day. 

And then, please vote.