I’m not running for Congress
Thoughts on sharing openly online
I’m not running for congress.
That’s Sean’s favorite joke when I start to sound “too formal” talking about a complex topic because I’m afraid of being misunderstood.
He tells me not to run for congress… instead, to just say what I think. I need to trust that he knows me enough to get my intent — or ask questions to fully understand — even if my initial words aren’t perfect.
That trust can be hard for me.
I’m a non-confrontational person who loves “warm fuzzy” feelings. If we look back at the slew of personality and strengths tests I took in college, empathy and harmony top the list.
I mean, can’t we all just hold hands and sing songs? That’s my dream. I’m only partially kidding
So sometimes it’s tough when I find myself with a million thoughts in my head that I so want to share… and also a million doubts that I’ll share the wrong way or offend someone or come on too strong.
I’m passionate:
About dogs
Living with them well. Learning with them well. Connecting with them and connecting with fellow dog lovers through them.
I find it so unbelievably rewarding, and it is so unbelievably difficult to shut up about it sometimes.
And about avoiding generalizations
It’s important to me to accept differences and embrace the many nuances in the world around us. I don’t know if “right” and “wrong” exist as black-and-white things in almost any context.
We all have our own moral frameworks, our own values, our own experiences… and I like that.
So I find myself overthinking
I want to say things yet simultaneously think of the many ways they can be perceived — or the holes in my logic I can’t fill in with a few thousand characters on social media — and I feel like no matter what I do, some voter is going to get in a tizzy and tell their family I’m an idiot over the dinner table.
But Sean’s right.
I’m not running for congress. The stakes aren’t that high. I have faith in my audience — this wonderful community — to see who I am and understand my intent.
And I have faith in myself to focus on what actually matters
Because the only creature I really need to impress, the only one I really need to trust me and love me, is Scout. That’s what matters.
Campaign speeches be damned.
