Hi, all, and happy Friday. I know. The polls! I want to tell you a quick story. Forgive me if it’s too personal. My husband and I didn’t have an easy time conceiving a child. We tried for almost two years the “old fashioned way,” then did IUI, and finally had to resort to IVF. As anyone who’s gone through it will tell you, this is a grueling, expensive, and incredibly stressful process—made more so by the fact that it comes with no guarantee of success—but we desperately wanted to conceive. So we went ahead.
What a beautiful story; wow. Hope IS a verb, no matter how ya slice it. (Back to texting for the rest of the day before I disappear into the voting center for the next four days as election clerk.)
Ciao from Italy Jessica - thanks for the shout out for Vote from Abroad (www.votefromabroad.org) there are 6.5 million of us US citizens living abroad - and our votes can be key for races with very tight margins. If any of your subscribers know someone who is living or studying abroad, please let them know they can definitely vote! If they have any questions, the votefromabroad.org site features a chat box where they can get help from our voting experts!
Thank you for sharing your personal story, and for the reminder that all is not hopeless. I have (an optimistic) theory about the results of the 2020 election, and a very possible prediction for the midterms next week. It was a little confusing in 2020 when Trump lost, but down ballot Republicans won. I believe that “mainstream” (read “not MAGA”) Republicans had had enough of Trump’s glaring incompetence, but still believed in the integrity of those Republicans in the legislature. A lot has happened since then, and a majority of those Republicans in the legislature have shown themselves to be corrupt “MAGA” Republicans after all. I foresee that mainstream Republicans have had enough of the lying, corruption and violence, and will vote against their party and FOR DEMOCRACY. I, for one, and keeping the faith.
I'm feeling the blues from the data that I'm hearing on the news, and so I also was really determined to take action today. Thanks for your help and your motto that is so inspiring to me: "Hope is an action." I made the calls and signed up for my first ever phone bank!
Thank you for sharing this. You are so brave! Thank you for the daily inspiration and all of the training. Watching your TT videos of phone banking has really helped me learn. I'm only doing text banking now but I still learn a TON from you.
Thank you so much for sharing your personal story. I am happy for you and your family. It is the perfect metaphor and we will all go ahead with hope in our hearts.
1) Please don't ever think you need to apologize for your powerful and very relevant story. I'm so happy that you saw it through and have brought such a special person into our world.
2) Please take a few moments for an uplifting and moving experience. ... and see if you agree that every one of us should post this wherever we can. I met a new activist singer songwriter on my Slack Postcard group, Markers for Democracy (thanks to whoever turned me on to them - I can't remember!) Her name is Stacy Beyer, and her song "Good Trouble" is dedicated to civil rights hero John Lewis (It's his phrase). She met him and he asked her to sing it to him - and they both cried. He handed her a tissue. The video is a powerful expression of all the good trouble we need to raise.
Hi Jess, following you from Wisconsin. Guess I don't need to tell you how stress-inducing this election has been. I know you say to ignore the polls but they're SO CLOSE I can't not see them! LOL. And I'm really, really scared about the future of the state at this point. The Republicans in Wisconsin are truly frightening at this point. Four days till Election Day. Tomorrow I plan to go out canvassing for the first time in my life. If I don't, I will hate myself forever. Wish me luck.
HI Jess, your post said that in NC it's possible to request a ballot by email up until Election Day. That is not accurate. The deadline to request an absentee ballot was Nov 1, so voters now can either vote tomorrow (Sat.) during the last day of Early Voting or on Election Day.
Thank you for sharing your success story after so many disappointments. We needed that today. Hope is everything!
What a beautiful story; wow. Hope IS a verb, no matter how ya slice it. (Back to texting for the rest of the day before I disappear into the voting center for the next four days as election clerk.)
Personal story was lovely, and worth repeating.
Ciao from Italy Jessica - thanks for the shout out for Vote from Abroad (www.votefromabroad.org) there are 6.5 million of us US citizens living abroad - and our votes can be key for races with very tight margins. If any of your subscribers know someone who is living or studying abroad, please let them know they can definitely vote! If they have any questions, the votefromabroad.org site features a chat box where they can get help from our voting experts!
Thank you for sharing your personal story, and for the reminder that all is not hopeless. I have (an optimistic) theory about the results of the 2020 election, and a very possible prediction for the midterms next week. It was a little confusing in 2020 when Trump lost, but down ballot Republicans won. I believe that “mainstream” (read “not MAGA”) Republicans had had enough of Trump’s glaring incompetence, but still believed in the integrity of those Republicans in the legislature. A lot has happened since then, and a majority of those Republicans in the legislature have shown themselves to be corrupt “MAGA” Republicans after all. I foresee that mainstream Republicans have had enough of the lying, corruption and violence, and will vote against their party and FOR DEMOCRACY. I, for one, and keeping the faith.
I'm feeling the blues from the data that I'm hearing on the news, and so I also was really determined to take action today. Thanks for your help and your motto that is so inspiring to me: "Hope is an action." I made the calls and signed up for my first ever phone bank!
Jessica, yours is a beautiful story, well told and well timed!!!!
Truly, you're the best!
mariann
Great story, Jessica! Say, did you provide a list of what you're voting for this year? i'm looking through the Substack and don't see your guide.
Thank you for sharing this. You are so brave! Thank you for the daily inspiration and all of the training. Watching your TT videos of phone banking has really helped me learn. I'm only doing text banking now but I still learn a TON from you.
Thank you so much for sharing your personal story. I am happy for you and your family. It is the perfect metaphor and we will all go ahead with hope in our hearts.
OMG so sorry I'm only seeing this now! How did it go? Did you see the Michael Moore pice linked above in the comments? Don't give up yet!
1) Please don't ever think you need to apologize for your powerful and very relevant story. I'm so happy that you saw it through and have brought such a special person into our world.
2) Please take a few moments for an uplifting and moving experience. ... and see if you agree that every one of us should post this wherever we can. I met a new activist singer songwriter on my Slack Postcard group, Markers for Democracy (thanks to whoever turned me on to them - I can't remember!) Her name is Stacy Beyer, and her song "Good Trouble" is dedicated to civil rights hero John Lewis (It's his phrase). She met him and he asked her to sing it to him - and they both cried. He handed her a tissue. The video is a powerful expression of all the good trouble we need to raise.
https://youtu.be/Lh2aCbYih2U
Hi Jess, following you from Wisconsin. Guess I don't need to tell you how stress-inducing this election has been. I know you say to ignore the polls but they're SO CLOSE I can't not see them! LOL. And I'm really, really scared about the future of the state at this point. The Republicans in Wisconsin are truly frightening at this point. Four days till Election Day. Tomorrow I plan to go out canvassing for the first time in my life. If I don't, I will hate myself forever. Wish me luck.
HI Jess, your post said that in NC it's possible to request a ballot by email up until Election Day. That is not accurate. The deadline to request an absentee ballot was Nov 1, so voters now can either vote tomorrow (Sat.) during the last day of Early Voting or on Election Day.
Hi everyone. Read this!!! https://www.michaelmoore.com/p/midterm-tsunami-truth-36 Really cool inside info....
Keep it up. It's working. Thanks Jess! You are amazing.
Thank you for sharing your story. Such a good reminder. And for anyone who needs it - here's Tara McGowan echoing what Jessica often says: stop doomscrolling and get to work! Fight on friends! https://twitter.com/taraemcg/status/1588639615556411394?s=20&t=LD9_iIkEYSEX1KkCGkSr0g