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struggle4progress

(118,041 posts)
Tue Apr 16, 2013, 01:29 PM Apr 2013

People remember small things that take little time or effort. I walked into a gas station today,

and the new cashier said, Are you still registering voters?

I had no idea who he was or where I met him

So I said, No, I haven't done that since the election. Did I pester you?

You came to my house, he told me

I wanted to know, so I asked if he'd registered. He told me he had. And then he told me he'd voted

We do this before every election, I said. We'll be doing it again in 2014

He didn't say anything else: he looked at me thoughtfully a moment, and then turned to the next customer

I talked to thousands of folk in 2012, all over town, in front of libraries or at the bus station or in barber shops or parking lots or on their door stoops, and I haven't done any voter registration work since the rolls closed six months ago. Those are very short contacts. I always promised folk I could register them in two minutes, and once a woman who didn't believe it had her friend time me: two minutes and three seconds! was the judgment

So I guess it's not surprising I can't remember knocking his door. But he remembered a conversation with me, that lasted maybe three minutes, perhaps six months or a year ago, and he was interested to know if I was still pounding the pavement

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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People remember small things that take little time or effort. I walked into a gas station today, (Original Post) struggle4progress Apr 2013 OP
Neat story. Sometimes we don't realize the impact we make, even in the briefest encounters. pinto Apr 2013 #1
Outreach is remembered. You're a marked man now, my friend! Meaning that in a good way. freshwest Apr 2013 #2
I remembered bumping into some Obama volunteers on Halloween night 2012.... Tommy_Carcetti Apr 2013 #3
planting seeds KT2000 Apr 2013 #4
Thank you for registering the voter(s). nt Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2013 #5
I keep some forms in my car all of the time wilsonbooks Apr 2013 #6
If I could i would recommend this multiple times Mira Apr 2013 #7
Thanks for sharing this lovely story. iemitsu Apr 2013 #8
Good work. And amazing that he remembered you. spooky3 Apr 2013 #9

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,085 posts)
3. I remembered bumping into some Obama volunteers on Halloween night 2012....
Tue Apr 16, 2013, 01:45 PM
Apr 2013

....while taking my girls trick or treating.

They were out going door to door, making sure voters were registered. I had a nice conversation and thanked them for their work.

KT2000

(20,544 posts)
4. planting seeds
Tue Apr 16, 2013, 01:53 PM
Apr 2013

Your story is a perfect example of how our everyday behavior can affect others for good or bad. Do the seeds we plant create good will or anger. You planted seeds for good will.

Mira

(22,378 posts)
7. If I could i would recommend this multiple times
Tue Apr 16, 2013, 02:11 PM
Apr 2013

for the important message it gives us who are out there working

iemitsu

(3,888 posts)
8. Thanks for sharing this lovely story.
Wed Apr 17, 2013, 08:43 AM
Apr 2013

Each of us has a much larger impact on our communities than we thing we do. Your action got the attention of the clerk and caused him to act. It is not unusual that he would remember your face though you don't really remember his. The unusual thing about this story is that the clerk had an opportunity to reinforce your behavior and to thank you for causing change in his life. For every character in our pasts, who personally thanks us for our work, there are many who, never have that chance.
Know that every thing you do counts.
Thank you for being a positive member of society.

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