There's something so incredible about voting.

Here's the thing. It's a long thing, but it's the thing. I was contemplating not voting this year.

I didn't tell anyone because I knew the barrage of counter-arguments I was going to get in return. I couldn't believe that I was thinking it, considering how politically active I was four (well, even two) years ago. The truth is I had completely lost my faith in America when I woke up that horrible rainy day when Kerry conceded to Bush. I'd worked so hard to make a difference, and instead of looking at the smaller picture (me, and the direct impact I had on my district having the highest voter turnout in the nation), I saw the gigantic loss and felt my time and efforts had been completely wasted.

This time around, I had a spark of faith until the time that the Republican National Convention was held here. The Palin Circus had just begun, and, as I'm sure you picked up on, I was incredibly disgusted with everything and decided I just wasn't going to be a part of it. A heavy sense of apathy mixed with depression clung to my conversations and attitude. Even up through Sunday.

There was one person who managed to bring it back to home for me. Sean Daley, Slug, Atmosphere, made me feel like I could do it. Just like last time. I went to the Atmosphere show on Sunday night to see him blow the doors off First Ave (and he did) and he changed my mind. His unbridled passion for MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD hit me hard, in my brain, in my gut.

So I went to the polls this afternoon. I registered, I hunched, and I fought through the hand cramp through all of the judges on the back of the ballot. And I headed across the street to Starbucks.

As I left the polls, I realized something. It feels so indescribable to vote for someone as opposed to voting against someone... something I'd never done before. It feels so great to be apart of a voice that is crying out for change, a voice that is screaming that we don't want more of the same, a voice that doesn't agree with what our government is doing. I felt almost euphoric.

So I almost didn't vote. But I did. And this year I'm proudly sporting my bright red sticker to show people that I care, that I want my voice to be heard. Whether or not the outcome is what I want doesn't matter until tomorrow. Today -- I voted. I decided to try to make a change. And it feels really fucking great.