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Can You Feel It, Too?
This election has done something to me.
Ever since 8pm pacific time, November 4th when he went over 270, and it became real, life has been different. I spent several days in a high emotional state, breaking into tears over nothing in particular. Happy one minute. Profoundly sad the next. Thoughts swirling. An inability to concentrate. Going through the motions. Looking for any reason to avoid thinking. Realizing there was something going on inside that I couldn't quite put my finger on.
At first I chalked it up to post-election depression. What do I do with myself now? How am I going to fill all the hours that for months have been spent obsessing over every aspect of the election?
Tonight the thoughts, feelings, emotions are starting to gel.
I realize that I really truly CARE about my country and what comes next. I'm anxious to learn what this man that we have put our faith in is going to want us to do to help him "right" this country. For the first time in, well, ever, I want to be a part of MAKING things right. I don't want or need anything. I'm doing really well. I don't want to wait to see how "they" are going to get us out of this mess we find our country in. I want to know what I can do to help.
I don't think for one minute that "they" are going to be able fix everything. "We" are going to have to be a big part of it. I'm not exactly sure yet what form this is going to take. But the excitement is building...can you feel it, too? Are you finding yourself wanting to be a better citizen? A better neighbor? Are you trying to think of ways to make a difference? Are you trying to be a little more tolerant? Are you asking for less and trying to give more?
I'm under no illusions that I'm going to do any hugely grandiose thing...I have a lot of obligations. I can't pick up and join the peace corps, or go on a mission, or save a village in Africa.
But I can do a lot of little things. I can give more to charity. I can find ways to volunteer in my community. I can force myself to remember to take my own grocery bags to the store. I can turn out lights when I leave a room. I can take a little shorter shower and lower the temperature of the water some. I can toss a bit more money into the tip jar. I can see if my neighbor needs me to pick something up at the market as long as I'm going anyway. I can throw a couple of cases of canned goods into my cart at Costco and drop them off at the food bank. I can do better at recycling. I can eat a little less. I can keep an eye out for needs that I can meet outside of my family.
I know I'm not the only one. There must be others who are feeling like this. Can you imagine the power of everyone's little things? Can you feel it?
Ever since 8pm pacific time, November 4th when he went over 270, and it became real, life has been different. I spent several days in a high emotional state, breaking into tears over nothing in particular. Happy one minute. Profoundly sad the next. Thoughts swirling. An inability to concentrate. Going through the motions. Looking for any reason to avoid thinking. Realizing there was something going on inside that I couldn't quite put my finger on.
At first I chalked it up to post-election depression. What do I do with myself now? How am I going to fill all the hours that for months have been spent obsessing over every aspect of the election?
Tonight the thoughts, feelings, emotions are starting to gel.
I realize that I really truly CARE about my country and what comes next. I'm anxious to learn what this man that we have put our faith in is going to want us to do to help him "right" this country. For the first time in, well, ever, I want to be a part of MAKING things right. I don't want or need anything. I'm doing really well. I don't want to wait to see how "they" are going to get us out of this mess we find our country in. I want to know what I can do to help.
I don't think for one minute that "they" are going to be able fix everything. "We" are going to have to be a big part of it. I'm not exactly sure yet what form this is going to take. But the excitement is building...can you feel it, too? Are you finding yourself wanting to be a better citizen? A better neighbor? Are you trying to think of ways to make a difference? Are you trying to be a little more tolerant? Are you asking for less and trying to give more?
I'm under no illusions that I'm going to do any hugely grandiose thing...I have a lot of obligations. I can't pick up and join the peace corps, or go on a mission, or save a village in Africa.
But I can do a lot of little things. I can give more to charity. I can find ways to volunteer in my community. I can force myself to remember to take my own grocery bags to the store. I can turn out lights when I leave a room. I can take a little shorter shower and lower the temperature of the water some. I can toss a bit more money into the tip jar. I can see if my neighbor needs me to pick something up at the market as long as I'm going anyway. I can throw a couple of cases of canned goods into my cart at Costco and drop them off at the food bank. I can do better at recycling. I can eat a little less. I can keep an eye out for needs that I can meet outside of my family.
I know I'm not the only one. There must be others who are feeling like this. Can you imagine the power of everyone's little things? Can you feel it?
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Lovely, still! I also feel a different. I'm not suffering from campaign withdrawal. I'm greatly relieved that it is over. But, that something that started stirring in the air in early 2007 is still out that and I can still sense it. I've never been able to articulate what it is. But at least in some sense, now that we have our president-elect, the sense of hope has been replaced with a sense of promise. And I feel calmy optimistic, even as the economy continues to make my life as an individual more difficult.
As for what to do next, I believe that change.gov has an America Serves section, where you can plug in your zip code to find out about volunteer needs in your community.
November 13, 2008 8:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Heck, yeah, I can feel it. This limbo state is excruciating. But not necessarily in a bad way. We're all just waiting, waiting, waiting. David Letterman said the other night, "I think I speak for most Americans when I say that I wouldn't mind if he got started a little early." The G20 leaders all wanted to meet him this weekend, but Obama said, "Nope, sorry. Only one president at a time, and I'm not it. Not yet, anyway." It's like the whole world took a deep breath and forgot to exhale. And yet, things have already begun to change. You CAN feel it. You can see it on peoples' faces. Let the nightmare be over. Let the dream be real.
November 13, 2008 9:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Short version of your post: "Yes we can. How can I help?" I feel exactly that way, too.
November 13, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
I feel happy and calm and excited, all at the same time. I don't have a clue as to how an Obama administration will overcome the huge pile of dung left by the previous incompatent regime, but I believe in his intelligence and true desire to be the President of all of us, a sense of his fairness and decency. I have no doubt that the Dark Forces will try to destroy him and his programs, but he's shown a remarkable ability to forge ahead through the worst of slime hurled into his path, so I think he'll find ways to achieve a lot of what he finds necessary. My prayers and hopes are with him, but I do not expect him to walk on water. He is a good man and at this point in our history that is exactly what we need!
November 13, 2008 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do you get the sense that he feels the weight of the job in a way that we haven't seen lately? I think it might be because he wants to lead more than he wants to be president. I'm not suggesting that he is not ambitious or arrogant. As Obama himself admits, it takes a certain amount of arrogance to believe yourself qualified to be the leader of the free world. But I think he wants to do it because he wants to make things better. Not so he can measure up to daddy. This might be completely unfair, because I have a total bias and no facts to back it up, but it seems to me that it is the democrats who continue to do really meaningful work, even when they are done being president, not just attending state funerals and going on diplomatic missions, but starting initiatives of their own, a la Carter and Clinton. What work has George HW Bush done? What did Regan do? Did they make the world better after their terms?
November 13, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I got that sense the night he delivered his election night speech. I heard some pundit remark that evening that he had the look of someone who had already taken the weight of the world upon his shoulders. And another who said, "His tone and his demeanor suggest that he's already entered the president's fortress of solitude." I agree. He looked somber--not jubilant.
November 13, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly.
November 13, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Somber is the perfect word, and I noticed it, too. It truly was as if the weight of the world had shifted onto his shoulders, and in many respects it has. I can barely imagine the enormity of the responsibility he must feel.
That may be why I want so deeply to help. I admire him so much, and I don't for one minute want him to feel like he is alone. I want him to know that the army of supporters he has built up will be there for him.
November 13, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
For the first time in my life, I truly believe our input and our hard work will be an essential element to success. That's an exciting prospect, and it fills me with energy and hope.
November 13, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
exact same feelings as Still's.
The time is coming when all of us who have been blessed with prosperity are going to be called upon to help our president and the nation recover from the fall of the free market system that Mr. Bush is still defending as of this morning.
We have had lives, many of us, of material blessings year after year after year, decade after decade. And that doesn't mean we made six figure incomes either. But we are coming to a time when we right the balance sheet and give back...
November 13, 2008 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly! We never came close to making 250K a year, but we are VERY comfortable. We never went nuts over material things, but we have plenty. We always have lived and continue to live below our means. As long as the whole economy doesn't go upside down, we will be fine.
I'm still struggling a little w/ the balance between a hand out and a hand up for those who have so little, but I know I can no longer sit back and watch the divide between the haves and have nots grow ever wider...
It's going to be an interesting, exciting ride, this next 4 (and hopefully 8) years!
November 13, 2008 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
We voted for hope and our wish was granted. It's a very cool feeling.
November 13, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Absolutely I feel it.
I'm leading the charge in my neighborhood to take back our flag. For too long it has been the province of jingoistic forces of intolerance. I'm flying it every day from the corner of my house, just as I did with it alongside my Obama '08 banner during the election. Progressives have much to be proud of in the direction our country has taken.
November 13, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Early in the campaign (I think at the suggestion of Paul Begala), I went out and bought a bunch of flag pins. I used to carry them around and hand them out to my Democratic friends. The Republicans are totally blowing it, and if they don't figure out what they're doing wrong they're going to be forced to stop wrapping themselves in the flag and hand the mantle of patriotism over to the Democrats. The notion that Republicans tend to place party before country is catching on. They're in trouble and they clearly don't understand why.
November 13, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
But … were the flag pins made in the USA? ;)
November 13, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
No. I went out of my way to buy Chinese flag pins. They're made out of lead, so they have a much more substantial feel. And it's important to me to lend support to one of our most important trading partners. :)
November 13, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
True story: a while back my wife and I were shopping for a flag pin for my Mother-in-law, but we couldn't find a single one that was actually made in the USA (or that had 13 stripes). Granted, we only looked in one store (Belk's).
November 13, 2008 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't think you're going to find an American made flag pin no matter how hard you look. Now if you're looking for great service and fantastic prices:
http://www.globalsources.com/manufacturers/Flag-Pin.html
http://www.chinatraderonline.com/Badge/flashing-badge/Flag-Pins-215337143.htm
November 13, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Every now and then I just belch out "WE DID IT!" I don't know why but it feels good. Like I helped in doing something good for everyone, without a doubt we helped get the better candidate elected and even if we can't help in enormous ways every little bit helps. I am proud to be part of this community, because we blogged together and we debated together and we volunteered together for the United States of Amerca(patent pending).
November 13, 2008 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's kinda like the Redsox winning the World Series, I know it happened, but I'm still not sure it really did happen. It'll sink in when he's sworn in..............
November 13, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
This was the first election that I was old enough to vote in...and this was a hell of a first election for me. I remember crying my eyeballs out not just because I happen to be black, but because 1) the work I did for his campaign meant something and I felt like I made a difference and 2) I have hope that somehow this guy can clean up Bush's mess. Maybe not all of it, and probably not in one term (as Obama said), but at least there's now that hope.
I hope this means a lot for those in my generation, because having such a historic, meaningful election as your first election will increase the likelihood of participation in the future. I talked with a woman last night who voted for the first time in 1960 (for JFK), and she's been politically active ever since. You probably can't say that as often if the first vote you cast was for, say Nixon or Bush.
November 13, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I never thought about it like that! Nixon was my first, and it has taken all this time for me to get in the game! Welcome to adulthood! I'm excited for you on so many levels!
You may have done it already, and if so, please point me to the post, but I would be truly interested in hearing what having a black president means to you as a young black male. I can only imagine (being an old white female) and I'd like to know if my imaginings meet reality.
November 13, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I haven't done it yet...I've been wanting to blog like crazy since the election, but I realized that I have this thing called "college" I should focus on so I can graduate. *sigh*
I'll let you know when I do though :-)
November 13, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice, still, very nice. It's such a wonderful feeling to see our country expressing pride again. We've awakened from a long, dark slumber ... there's no stopping us now!
November 13, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know exactly what you mean. Around Thursday or Friday of last week, I started to go into shock and, like you, started to get very upset. Don't know why. It's been a roller coaster of emotions over the last week - mostly good, though.
I've now reached a point where I am just thrilled to be moving forward with my beloved country at this critical moment in history.
November 13, 2008 6:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gerald Ford captured it best:
"Our long national nightmare is over."
November 13, 2008 8:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with most of what I've read here. I feel more optimistic than I've felt in 16 years - apparently, unlike a lot of folks here, I felt this optimistic when Bill Clinton got elected. Getting involved, doing what we can do to help achieve the goals we believe in is admirable.
But a lot of the posts in this thread sound like people see Obama as the Messiah. Wanting to help Him. Not wanting Him to feel alone. Etc.
I think Obama's a remarkable human being. I'm happy he won. I volunteered for him and voted for him. But I think some of the worshippers need to turn it down a notch. He's human. Don't let your expectations get out of hand.
November 13, 2008 9:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to disagree, debbie. There is a huge difference between admiration and worship. Unless I've really missed something, no one on this thread thinks he has come to save us. We all understand that that there is no way he can fix everything. No one except you used a capital "H" in him as you would w/ the Messiah.
I think I speak for everyone on the thread when I say that we've been inspired and we're ready and willing to roll up our sleeves and do the work, we just need a leader, and we're happy that Obama is it!
November 13, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm just teasing - it's fun to wallow in all the optimism here. But take a look at some of these statements:
"We're all just waiting, waiting, waiting ... It's like the whole world took a deep breath and forgot to exhale. "
"I feel happy and calm and excited, all at the same time ... have no doubt that the Dark Forces will try to destroy him"
"That may be why I want so deeply to help. I admire him so much, and I don't for one minute want him to feel like he is alone. I want him to know that the army of supporters he has built up will be there for him."
Doesn't it sound a little cultish? Can't we laugh at ourselves a little here?
Right now, I'm wallowing in the thrill that Hillary could be Secretary of State. He's truly going after the best and the brightest and he's not afraid to be challenged by his own Cabinet. That's so refreshing.
November 13, 2008 11:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gotta agree w/ you on that one!
November 14, 2008 12:11 AM | Reply | Permalink