Cahill for Congress

Reading Club

The exchange of ideas was in part what my campaign was all about, so I’m excited that you’ve selected Ms. Cahill for Congress for your book club. The conversation points below, which I’ve grouped by topic, are designed to trigger discussion, even disagreement. These are just starting points. Go wild. And if you want me to participate by telephone, just email me a request with the details. If there’s a way to fit it into my completely crazy schedule, I’ll phone in.

Conversation starting points:

Personal struggle, triumph:

• Getting over personal demons and knowing there’s a better life destined for you. You just have to not be afraid and keep plodding through.
• Don’t allow your life to be controlled by fear.
• Don’t be intimidated by people who claim to be the experts or the ones in the know. Trust yourself and own personal knowledge. It’s okay to be a neophyte and evolve.
• So many of us don’t do things because we’re afraid we won’t be good at them. I’m awful at art, but I love it. So I just signed up for a weekend water color workshop. How else am I going to get good at art or anything else if don’t take that dive. Pleasure doesn’t lie in being good at something, but in doing it.
• You can’t live your destiny if you question yourself all the time. Follow your internal voice and don’t let anyone tell you no. Do you know how many people told me not to write a book because it wouldn’t sell? You have to keep listening to that little voice inside you and follow your truth.

Kids and teaching:

• We have a responsibility to children to be role model s. How does that translate to your life? To your child’s.
• The current state of testing environments in classrooms is taking away from true learning and spontaneity. Teachers can’t take advantage of learning opportunities because they don’t want to get off track, even though getting off track can be a good thing.

Encouraging involvement in government:

• Civic involvement needs to be a family value. Model that you’re involved whether you’re voting, taking children to a caucus, or asking open-ended questions when the opportunity arises so your kids can form their own opinions.
• How can you engage your children in conversations about current events over dinner or wherever? Regarding the energy debate, for example, you might ask: Do you know what off-shore drilling is? What’s the difference between on-shore drilling and off-shore drilling? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Where does that happen? What other ways are there to create energy? How do you feel about this? How does this affect you? What other ways can you come up with to increase your child’s civic awareness and participation?

VOTE