I love to vote. It gives me such a feeling of accomplishment and participation. If I get nothing else done today, at least I voted. (Not only that, I’ve been to the gym!)
Also, writing Happier at Home has made me more attuned to the feeling not only of “home” but also of “neighborhood.” Voting is always a great neighborhood experience for me.
When I walked into my polling place (a school), I spotted my husband, who was just about to vote–great timing for me, because he could tell me the number of our election district, and save me a long wait to find out that information. Once in line, I met the grandmother of a girl in my older daughter’s class, and a woman who heard me speak last night at the Yale Club. When I signed the voting register, I saw my mother-in-law’s name on the same page as mine (we live around the corner from my in-laws, and I mean right around the corner). It was a very friendly neighborhood experience.
Hurricane Sandy has done so much damage here in New York City, and the voting process has been affected as well. Polling places aren’t available, machines don’t work, electricity is out, and so on. Many people will have a lot of trouble voting.
I felt so full of gratitude when I voted. Gratitude for my neighborhood and for my country. Gratitude for electricity and democracy. These elements of my life are so easy to take for granted, and yet play such an important part of my daily happiness.
How about you? How do you feel about voting?
