The Power of One:  Creating More Power
 
I knew a woman who complained incessantly about government, politicians and when I asked her if she voted, her response was, "nope, never have, never will, don't believe in it, my vote doesn't count."
 
Well, in the face of such cynicism and negativity, what could I say? I grew up in a household where my mother saw women receive the right to vote in 1920, and she and my father had such interest in and strong opinions about candidates and issues that every once in a while, their votes cancelled each other out!  Discussions and dinner were always noisy.  Volunteering for causes and candidates, speaking up, writing letters and running for office were all part of my family tradition, which my daughters have embraced.  We believe in exercising our power, especially at the polls.
 
The power of one, one vote, one volunteer, one helping hand, one extra loaf of bread, one new scientific breakthrough, like Polio Vaccine, can move all of us forward in improving society.  It was one pediatrician, Dr. Ray Helfer, after seeing abused and neglected children, who started the idea of children's trust funds to dedicate funding for prevention.  Now just thirty years since Dr. Helfer's idea, every state has a child abuse prevention fund.
 
So think about the Power of One:  light your candle (don't curse the darkness like my friend), vote every time you get a chance, in every election, local, state, national; volunteer even if only for one hour. If every one of us donated just one can of soup or one loaf of bread one time a month, the food banks would have enough.  Your candles can join others in bringing light in the darkness, your vote joins others in supporting a cause or candidate, your donations of time or needed goods can create a powerful solution to community problems.
 
And if your candidates don't get elected next Tuesday, write and thank them for standing up for what they believe in.  And if your candidates do get elected, congratulate them and tell them it's time to get to work on creating more and better ways to keep children safe and families strong.

 

Click here to watch this short video about the Power of One.
 
Best.

 

 

Karen H. Carpenter, MA, JD