Hey hi!
How was your weekend?
Whew.
This past Sunday I did something that does not come naturally to me at all: I stood in front of a group of people and campaigned. I’ve heard the exhortation often, if you want real change “run for something”, but I pushed aside, and never considered doing it until now. Being asked to run for office and declined. But at the age of almost 73, I decided,” if not now, when?”
The last time I ran for an elected office it was in high school using hand-drawn construction paper signs. Decades later, here I am again…
Out of my comfort zone. Stepping up to the mic at city council meetings I use therapeutic breathing like before pulling a heavy deadlift. I get nervous gathering my thoughts in front of crowds. The performative nature of campaigning feels so weird nowadays. It’s all waaaay out of my comfort zone. Well, yeah, powerlifting competitions and cycling racing were out of my comfort zone too.
I’m doing it anyway. I used to think I was apolitical. I now realize that everything is political – especially for women at this time again in history.
I was surrounded on Sunday by a wonderful group of friends and supporters at an outdoor meet-and-greet, as I talked about representing Asbury Park District 9 on the Monmouth County Democratic Committee. They were already a receptive audience, so it was an easy place to start. But as we talked it became clear that almost none of these plugged-in, active citizens actually knew what the County or Local Democratic Committees do, or who currently represents them.
As I explained it to the group, my goal wasn’t to come out swinging at the current establishment. I want to be the best listener, and work with other members of the committee as a team. I intend to demonstrate respect for everyone, regardless of political friction.
Democracy isn’t a spectator sport. We cannot sit on the sidelines, watch the scoreboard, and hope for the best. It requires us to do the hard thing – get on the lifting platform, on the bike, on the track – in front of people and participate.
The “Shrinking” Narrative
If you follow my coaching or read this blog lately, you know there’s a current theme about the pressures for women to stay small, thin, and non-threatening. We’re constantly being insidiously conditioned to shrink our bodies and quiet our voices.
The political system operates on a very similar mechanism.
It creates a psychological weight, an engineered exhaustion and apathy that leads to, “Your voice doesn’t matter. Why even show up?”
When the system tries to make your voice smaller or your access more difficult, the most rebellious thing you can do is take up space and believe in yourself.
Strength starts locally, personally.
Your vote is a real-world execution of your power. Protecting that vote – that’s why when I am on this committee, I will ensure that our neighbors know when, where, and how to vote, and their registration status. Check out this voting resource: VOTE.ORG
This is how we can take care of our neighbors, and help to elect the leaders at the local, state, and federal level who share our values. Right here at the local county level.
It’s why leaders like Senator Vin Gopal, Assemblywoman Luanne Peterpaul, Assemblywoman Margie Donlon, and Congressman Frank Pallone are standing with us, as we do with them. They know that change-makers aren’t just born at the state house; they are forged right here in our neighborhoods.
True strength isn’t the absence of fear. It’s taking that deep, grounding breath, and stepping up because the values I’ll be defending – economic opportunity, social justice, civil rights, and community well-being – are worth taking up space and saying F-fear.
Onward.
Follow the campaign: Polli and MIchael Monmouth County Dems
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