How Voting Made Me More Productive Today

I predict that this is going to be the most posted opening line for all blogs today…

“So, I voted today…”

It was about 5:55 AM as I walked up to the polls. There were about seven different lines that you could join all based on a voting district. There was a very energetic woman, who 10 minutes into the voting process was already beginning to lose her voice, shouting orders, giving instructions, making conversation (a little too much conversation for “a voice” that needs to last It well into the evening) thanking people for their patience and remarking, “I know somebody’s gonna a curse me out before the end of the day.” By 6:15 AM there was easily 150 people standing in the different lines and entering the building in groups of five. Most “districts” only had one actual voting booth apiece so the line crawled along at a snails pace.

There’s a point to all of this so keep reading…

Fast-forward to me having just voted using using one of those old voting machines that New York City has used for 50+ years. Walk in, pull some levers, flips and switches, pull the lever the other way and you voted.

As I walked out of the polling place, I had this fascinating rush of energy. I felt powerful. I felt like I’d done a good thing. My focus was on something bigger than just me and my problems. When I got home, I cooked breakfast for Brad and myself with a renewed vigor and energy. I turned on the TV and listened to all the commentary and speculation and predictions with a renewed interest.

I was a part of something much bigger, much older and quite frankly, more important than my little issues. I sat down with inspiration and was able to do something I haven’t been able to get myself to do in ages… I wrote. I thought and then I wrote a little bit more. I became excited about other projects in my life as well. I started a business project that I’ve wanted to do for ages but had been avoiding for weeks.

Crap!  I’m getting things done!

So, what does this all mean? I think the answer lies in being able to step out of myself and think about my life from a bigger place. When we get bogged down in the microcosm we call our own life and microscopically examining every fear, every fault, every trouble and stress, we make those negative things the most important things in our lives. But when we step into a bigger place, join a much larger community and recognize ourselves as integral members of those communities, all of a sudden it’s not just me battling uphill there’s someone behind me helping to shoulder the load. There’s a bigger perspective. We feel powerful.

Has anything in my current situation actually changed? Yes! I have!  I’ve changed my perspective. I feel more powerful and able to do what I need to do. I feel grateful. I have a renewed awareness of my abilities.

I don’t have control over other people. I don’t have control over the economy. But I do have control over my perspective and how I want to show up in my own life. Suddenly, as a part of the bigger whole, any challenges or mistakes i fear I might make along the way seem much less significant.

So, I voted today. The surprise was I regained control of my perspective. In the election of November, 2008 the winner is… me!