You don’t just vote every four years

It’s Election Day and this year especially, EVERY person, company, actor, musician, grandma, grandpa, and dog is telling you to get out and vote. And they’re right!! I’ve voted in every election since I earned the privilege at age 18. (Even the little ones that no one cares about, local races with less fanfare or impressiveness.) That’s a lot of votes. So I’m kind of surprised that sooo many people don’t vote every year, or even every four years. Then again, I guess I’m not.

Because, truthfully, every day you can vote for the life that you want, and every day these votes are thrown away carelessly.

Friends, please don’t just vote every four years.

Vote well, every day. What do I mean, exactly? Cast ballots for the life that you want to see for yourself, for your family, your community, your nation, and your world. You vote with your actions, your words, your gestures. You vote with your prayers and your complaining, your kindness and your selfishness. Your criticisms or your encouragement. Your blaming or your graciousness. In conversations and with your creations.

Too often we overlook these ballots. We downgrade their importance. We abdicate the throne of power. Cast wise ballots that are not merely judgements towards another, but ballots of change that can happen through you.

You are infinitely, incredibly capable of creating lasting, beautiful change, exactly where you are.

However much a president or politician can create policies that we might fear will harm or help us, the truth is, no one needs to help you fulfill your purpose of greatness except you.

Vote every day for the world that you want to live in.

See injustice? Try casting a ballot for reconciliation, not shame, by speak words of healing. See rudeness? Smother it with kindness, like a wet blanket putting out a fire. See lack or need? Don’t just talk about what should be done or who should help— step up and do it yourself, however you’re able.

So even if today is a big day (and whenever we get end up getting the results will be too), know that EVER DAY is a big day. Whether your “guy” wins or looses, that doesn’t have to determine if YOU do.

 How are you casting your votes, EVERY DAY?

Offer your own life to do the good which you seek. No change starts too small. Because when we say small we often mean one person to one person. That’s where any real change happens, anyway. Person to person, heart to heart. So no, no “vote” or act is too small.

You have incredible influence, right where you are tonight, and tomorrow, and the next day. On repeat. You are capable of creating the world that you want to live in. Don’t waste your ballots.

Do NOT concede defeat or abdicate the responsibility that you have to any policy or politician. 🌟Don’t surrender the power that you have; use it for good.🌟

Imagine if the millions and millions of voters all took THOSE votes more seriously. Every day, on repeat. Maybe we wouldn’t need to make such a big deal about these elections if we all did our part more thoughtfully, if we all used our talents relentlessly well, for the good of each other and our neighbors.

So yes, vote. But then vote again on repeat. Vote for love and life and freedom and joy. Go out and BE the change, BE the love. SPEAK, SHARE and bring JOY to the life and the people around you. That is the change that sticks. God has given you a voice, a vote. Use it every day. Vote for God’s kind of change. Vote for His Love and Truth. Vote for Brighter days. They are ahead if you let them be.