a poem for those who vote

I cast my ballot! Have you?

America is a very interesting place to live currently. I was reminded by a friend last week, “How can we continue to practice critical thinking in such a polarised environment?”. My mother and I sat down last week at the kitchen table and went through doing research on each proposition and local candidates. I had a flashback to my middle school homeschool days of sitting at the table asking questions, giving answers and having discussions on various subject matters (shoutout to all the homeschooled kids) . We learned critical thinking in high school: how to read two stories and compare, contrast and analyse the main themes and issues . We had open conversation about each issue rather than voting in isolation. We need kitchen tables and spaces where we are able to bring our “ballots” in life and find direction and community. Although we may not have voted the same on everything, the experience of learning and leaning into our duty and privilege as citizens together imprinted me.

I realised my four years abroad allowed me to be emotionally distant from my “home” country. I wasn’t a French citizen either, so I found myself a member of a strange and beautiful third culture in which my worldview and experience of belonging was radically shaken.

Now that my address is in the U.S.A. how will I choose to invest and vote daily in my love and action?

Beyond this paper ballot are our daily decisions, interactions, investments and lifestyles. Today I cast my ballot for the 2020 U.S. Election, but how will I choose to vote tomorrow with my dollar, time, listening and skills?

Here is a poem for those who vote. Let’s keep voting daily with our lives.