I care about people. Not just people like me. Not just myself or my immediate family/community. I believe that we should help those less fortunate than us. I believe that our country was founded on the premise of welcoming and helping those who were striving for a better future and that we should continue that practice. I believe that everyone should have the same access to mental and healthcare so they can make decisions with their providers about their health.

I care about the environment. I want to leave the future generations with clean water and land to hike on. I believe that everyone (including and especially big business) has a duty to the land and environment and should be required to incorporate environmental protections into their practices. Our time here may be short but the effects our time has on the environment is lasting and everyone should remember that.

I believe if people stopped caring about the almighty dollar, that we could solve things like homelessness, poverty, the education gap, mental health issues, general health issues, and more. If we had a government led by people that cared more (or even a little) about the individual. If we had a government led by people who listened to their constituents, instead of spending all their time in meetings with billionaires and corporations. If we had a government led by people who worked together to develop solutions instead of hiding behind party lines because they are afraid of losing money from big donors or afraid of being voted out. If we had a government led by people who emulate the type of people our kids can look up to and strive to be one day because they are genuinely good people.

I believe that it is all of our responsibility to look beyond our own noses, beyond our own front doors, beyond our own borders, put ourselves in other’s shoes, however ill-fitting, and ask ourselves how it feels, how that person would benefit from our help. When we give, we get back a hundredfold. It doesn’t take much to give. What it takes is setting our ‘selves’ aside.

I am trying to raise kids who think beyond themselves. I am fortunate to know SO MANY people who do this every minute of every day. And I believe that with every hand that reaches out to lift another up, it will continue to multiply.

I hope you have all, regardless of whether you agree with me, taken the time to vote. It is our voice and so very important.