Day 41

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

7 Days to Election

Here we are, seven days to the general election.  I did write that each Sticker deserved a place in the sun and they have received it, just not in print.  Much of the same occurs each day and does not riveting reading make.  Tonight, however, I'm feeling reflective.  What have I learned over the last 41 days of wearing a McCain/Palin sticker?

I have learned I'm tougher than I thought.  Bravado encouraged me to order the 50 stickers and declare I would wear one a day until the election.  The first few days I felt like a cowering, nervous wimp wearing Sticker.  I've never publicly stood for anything, except my alma mater.  Wearing Sticker is personal and declarative.  There is no clever way to declare one is neutral when the current Republican badge clings to one's blouse.  Wearing a sticker means developing a spine and being willing (able) to talk to strangers about politics.  It means speaking about politics with knowledge and conviction.  It means being about to carry on a conversation without yelling, bursting into tears, or generally causing a scene in Target.

I've learned I can stand my ground, even at the possible expense of losing friends.  My entire life has been focused on being acceptable and pleasant.  I've wanted to be liked.  I've learned that it's better to have convictions than to be a agreeable.  I've learned I never felt comfortable as a "yes" girl.  Making a decision based on research works infinitely better for me than trying to fit in or not make waves. 

There are seven days to go.  Sticker and I will be out and about.  Somehow, in the final days of the election, when votes really matter, wearing Sticker doesn't feel like a big deal for me.  If feels like a big deal for John McCain and Sarah Palin.  It's no longer about me as a Sticker-wearer, but about me as a McCain/Palin supporter.