This may get political

"there is a time and a place"

There are three things we were taught never to talk about in life. Say them with me…religion, money, and politics.

Have you ever asked yourself why? The three things that impact us arguably the most in life are off limits for public discussion. I’ve kept reasonably quiet about these topics here, in my writings falling under ‘Just Love’. It’s been a conscious decision made as not to alienate anyone, wanting everyone to feel welcome here. Also just maybe because I took a lashing once from sharing my thoughts and feelings in public and it still stings a bit. I believed that if I spoke my truth I would be shielded from hate and negative backlash. I have never been less prepared and more wrong in my life. During my short tenure of public service I was met with hateful vitriol, although incredibly creative and funny if it wasn’t being directed at me and even death threats. My words were taken out of context, spun, and launched into space. What ensued was a national campaign to have my political career end before it had even just begun. Let me tell you friends, politics are not for the faint of heart. It is a dog eat dog world, regardless of where you fall in the political divide.

I lasted one term. I sat on the Health and Human Services committee for which I was incredibly grateful. I felt like the youngest child of five again as my senior representatives began calling me “Parker for the People” in jest as I advocated for individuals like you and me and those that couldn’t speak up for themselves. Looking back now, years later, I wish I had owned my nickname and felt more empowered to stand up stronger and taller against the machine. Life likes to send us to the gauntlet. Sometimes we rise and sometimes we fall. I did the best I could while I served our state. I stood when I had to, speaking up on the house floor when my heart took hold of my brain and refused to sit in silence. My emotions got the best of me. I was unable to see the trees through the forest, a way in which to move forward with a calm pragmatic cadence. Most days I wanted to pull my hair out, I felt as though I was back in high school and we all know how that went for square pegs. Yet even having witnessed the underbelly of politics I am incredibly thankful for having lived and experienced what it means to be behind the curtain. It is not for the faint of heart, but it is imperative that we have people with heart in office.

As I decided to not run for reelection, my friend and fellow sentient being was making the decision to run. I can remember the few times we spoke prior to her campaign in confidence. I didn’t want to scare her off but I also didn’t want her to be blindsided to the world she was about to enter. I was honest about the trying moments and also enthusiastic about the magic that can happen when good policy is created and passed for the people of the state. There are wins in politics but only if there are people there making the plays and taking part in the game. When you know, you know. I wasn’t made for politics. My heart was in the right place, but the way the sausage gets made was too manipulative for me to endure. I’m the kind of girl who wears her heart on her sleeve and has no poker face. Lies and entitlement flair up my Achilles heal and people and businesses putting money and power above everything else brings out the worst in me. It takes a certain type of individual, one may argue a hero, to have the ability to stand up to bullies in public regardless of the consequences and demand justice. I’ve met a few of these heroes in my lifetime and I’m forever in debt to their tenacious tenure of doing the right thing.

I gave up my seat after one term as a State Representative. I decided not to run for reelection. As I was going out, a wonderful spark of life was coming in. Ironically she ended up as Madam Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee. I couldn’t be more proud to call her my friend. She is fighting the fight fearlessly. She is showing up each and every day for us, the people. I know what she is up against and I wouldn’t trade places with her for all the money in the world. We both have had the honor of serving under the current President, making our roles in state government all the more challenging to stand up for people, those that have already fallen off the cliff as well as the many teetering on the edge. Not only has my friend lasted the full four terms as a representative, she just told me that she is running for Mark’s senate seat. If ever there was a time to talk politics, it’s now. We all have skin in the game whether we want to realize it or not. Michele aligns with my heart and what I feel is important as an individual and to a greater point what I want for my children and their children. We don’t all agree, that’s normal and expected. There are certain rights and policies that I value above all others, these matter to me. I am voting my conscious. I am being counted, not silenced.

I know we are not supposed to talk about politics. I know all too well that in taking part and having conversations about the laws that govern humanity we naturally create divide and hostility. But I think it’s time for each of us to ask, ‘what is it that we are fighting for?’

I will be voting for Michele Meyer for Maine State Senate! I urge you to wonder what it is that you most want from this life and world we live on. Who will best represent your heart, body, and soul.