Putting It Out There...

A little while ago I sent a forward -- something I rarely do -- to everyone on my email list. I definitely don't make a habit out of that. The forward was of a video from CatholicVote.com, about both presidential candidates' abortion views. 

A handful of people I sent it to aren't going to appreciate it, I think. And after I sent it, I got a little bit nervous, wondering what they'd think of me, hoping they wouldn't think I was too far right, too brainwashed by my church, too sappy, too... you get the idea. And they might think I'm ridiculous for sending out a mass email about my personal political views. 

And then I went downstairs to do the elliptical and read my magazine. But I was still nervous... what would so-and-so think? But then I was reading this article about what people said they'd do if they only had a few months to live. And really, I didn't care anymore. I mean, what if this video helped one person understand this one issue? I wasn't telling people to vote one way or the other. And I'm not advocating that a person vote for a candidate because of one specific issue, because that in itself bothers me about other people. But I listen to what other people have to say, because why the heck not listen to other opinions? 

And a few minutes after I sent my email, a friend emailed me back thanking me for what I'd written. An acquaintance emailed me, saying how she didn't like what I'd written. I guess I opened myself up for criticism. But when I look back on my life in however many years, I'd like to think I did something about an issue that was important to me. And so maybe it started here. Not that one little email was the start of a revolution... But still, it was a step in a particular direction. We'll see...