"It's not about me. It's about you."

Spoken by presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Hearts go thumpity-thump. Let the blood of hope course through your veins.

Lately I've read some entirely unique and/or absolutely stunning turns of phrases that are worth celebrating.

From Small Favor, the latest and greatest Harry Dresden book by the uber-talented Jim Butcher, come some real gems worth savoring.

About navigating a stream of thought, Dresden says:

"I kayaked down a logic cascade as I spoke." [Wow! I mean, wow! -- KLR]

About Dresden's first encounter with his half-brother's Hummer:

"He took the monorail to the other side of the Hummer's cab to unlock the passenger-side door. I showed up eventually ..."

"I squinted around the truck. 'Do TV shows start an hour later in the backseat than they do up here?'"

About Dresden's observation of another key character after a particularly nasty fight with big bad monsters:

"Kincaid, evidently exhausted himself, drew a gun, took the safety off, placed it on his chest, and went to sleep too. 'It's cute,' I whispered to Murphy. 'He has a teddy Glock.'"

Isn't this great stuff? Stuff that makes me laugh. And makes me jealous. And makes me inspired.

It's yucky to feel hope and fear at the same time.

Hope that our nation has an opportunity this November to turn a corner, to change perceptions, to raise expectations, and to take actions that will honestly and truthfully and positively help the lives of the majority of Americans.

And fear that our nation, because of fear, will lose the opportunity this November to do all of that.

But I'm walking that tightrope nonetheless.

Because the fates of our nation and, as Barack says, the "people of the world" are at stake.

Yes, it's not just about us anymore. It can't be. But isn't that better? To be about more than us? To make it not about just ourselves? Because it's not just the U.S. any longer. Living in the world of today is about being "more."

Barack has the ability and the life experience to relate to the majority of the *new* America. He doesn't make us less; his experience makes us more, and can help us relate to the world we live in today.

It is so important now to have a leader who:

1) offers ideas and an approach with which the rest of the world can better relate

2) reps the America that is *today* and not of 40 years ago

3) immediately grasps new ideas and stands up for new approaches

4) is someone able to serve four years and more, through what are sure to be very trying times

I'm not being Pollyanna.  Obama won't achieve everything he says he will. He'll change opinions and policy plans like any politician. But we have a better running start with this man who will be someone that others listen to, if only because they need to figure him out.

So, for those of you still on the fence, or those of you who know that you're making a decision based on fear of something that's new -- his name, his face, his background -- sit quietly for a moment.

Listen to your heart. Tap into the hopeful energy that imbues those of us of all races and spiritual practices and lifestyles who know that Obama can help restore some of the energy and idealism and hope and big ideas to America.

Stop by an Obama campaign office and look at the faces of the people there. All kinds. All ages. It's a wonderful thing to see.

Hope is a much more pleasant reason to vote for someone than fear. Follow your heart. Make up your *own* mind, but listen to your heart.

Doesn't matter how many times I watch this, I still feel good. Take a break and watch this gem from an unwitting world humanitarian.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

I've never "canvassed" before. Don't like knocking on people's doors -- not since UNICEF days. Don't like invading privacy. But, after the start of what was eventually 46 doors, I figured out that , if people don't want to talk to me, they won't bother opening the door. Plus I wasn't asking for anything other than information and which way they were leaning in November. It was actually not too bad.

The best part was seeing all the other volunteers who came to the Alexandria office for Obama/Warner that Saturday morning. There were lots of people volunteering, and even more were there in the afternoon when I got back from my shift.

People are jazzed. And hopeful. And inspired. All good stuff.

I actually talked to a registered Republican who was very thankful for my volunteer work -- he thinks it's very important. Even if he is voting for McCain. (But he's voting for Warner for Senate.)

So, in the end, there really was nothing to be scared of. And, in the end, I figured I've been jabbed enough with the Fear Needle  with all the crap that's been going on the last eight years. So, what's a little more?

If your local office calls you to help out in the next 100 days, go for it. You feel more like yourself, you feel part of your community, you feel part of the world. Part of the "people of the world."

Now that's progress.