As easy a landing as we can manage.

As easy a landing as we can manage. - Barnstorming on an Invisible Segway

Marissa Lingen

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[Nov. 3rd, 2012|10:53 am]

Marissa Lingen

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my friends rule, the art of the possible

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My dears, it is three days until the US election. Three. We can do this. We're on the home stretch. I just wanted to say: please, dear ones, can you cut yourselves some slack here? And if possible the people around you. But particularly yourselves. I am seeing so very many people I care about being so stressed and as a result so hard on themselves. Deep breaths, folks. I know that many of us are dealing with important issues, and it's not helping anybody's stress levels. I don't just mean important issues in politics. I just think it's stacking up, if you've been bombarded with all the same stuff for months on end, and now you've got a sick family member or a new job--or you don't have a new job when you want one--or any of a number of other things. Some of you had the big storm to deal with, a lot of us were worried about those who did. We're all very tired by now.

You probably have learned what you need to learn about the election here. (Especially if you don't live in the US!) Probably a nice walk, a good meal, a silly movie, something else would be good. Clear your head. Just take some deep breaths. Literal ones, deep breaths. You will not become a bad person if you are kind to yourself for a day. If you do, well, you can go back to beating yourself up for truth and justice tomorrow. But I kind of doubt it. I think it'll be okay if you have a really good autumn apple and breathe and think kind thoughts. Sounds a bit silly, doesn't it, "think kind thoughts"? I think we need it. I don't mind being silly.

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Comments:

From:

houseboatonstyx
2012-11-03 05:43 pm (UTC)

May I add, that unless you live in one of a few 'battleground' states, your vote isn't going to be the tie-breaker anyway? And one candidate has got a lead of about 100 electoral votes, so even a few states flipping wouldn't be enough to change the outcome.

http://election.princeton.edu/
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/
http://electoral-vote.com/

(Reply) (Thread)

From:

mrissa
2012-11-03 06:24 pm (UTC)

A one-vote tie-breaker is indeed an unlikely scenario. A great many of us are looking at more than just the one question on this ballot, though. "Don't stress yourself out" and "your vote doesn't matter for anything" don't have to be the same message.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

houseboatonstyx
2012-11-03 09:25 pm (UTC)

Of course each vote matters, for many things! Some of us want to send a clear message by voting for a third party candidate. Others think the best message is voting for one of the major candidates, to make his national popular vote margin high. We're contributing to data that will be analyzed for the nominations in 2016.

I just wanted to show that we don't have to worry about becoming Ralph Nader of 2012, unless we're in one of the very few swing states.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

zalena
2012-11-03 06:38 pm (UTC)

Thank you, I wish I could cut and paste this and send it to everyone I know.

I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year because my dad is out of work. I should be focused on how lucky I am that I can afford to do this for him, but it feels like a heavy obligation. So much of my life seems to be about obligation and interpersonal politics right now, I keep having to hold onto a cozy vision of laughter with people I love in a warm place with plenty to eat and drink. I'm hoping we can all find more of that in the coming months.

(Reply) (Thread)

From:

mrissa
2012-11-03 08:33 pm (UTC)

A cozy vision of laughter with people you love in a warm place with plenty to eat and drink sounds really good. I hope you can keep that.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

vcmw
2012-11-03 07:52 pm (UTC)

I have two good autumn apples today, and your post reminds me to appreciate them. I think I took home an Orleans Reinette and a Claygate Pearmain, but I'm not sure - the coop has a huge display of varietal apples and I try to grab different ones every time.

(Reply) (Thread)

From:

mrissa
2012-11-03 08:33 pm (UTC)

Yay varietals!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

ethelmay
2012-11-04 09:18 pm (UTC)

I am eating hot homemade applesauce made from three good apples as I read this. Cinnamon vibes all round.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

thanate
2012-11-03 09:46 pm (UTC)

Sadly, I actually still do need to research a couple things like Board of Education members (none of whom I've heard of before) but that's just because I've been avoiding getting to it. On the whole I'd say the only person I know who has a legitimate reason to stress about the election is my mother, and that's because she's the chief election official at her local polling place.

(Reply) (Thread)

From:

mrissa
2012-11-04 02:16 am (UTC)

I hope that you and your mom can separate research and preparation, respectively, from stress, then. Good luck.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

From:

elisem
2012-11-04 02:14 pm (UTC)

Thank you for this. Because yeah.

:takes some deep breaths:

:waves at you:

(Reply) (Thread)

From:

mrissa
2012-11-04 02:21 pm (UTC)

Yeah.

Hullo!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

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