Dear Editor:
My campaign is over now, and after a couple of months of door knocking, meeting and greeting and participating in all-candidates meetings, I can now look back on my own "win." You see, I'm a big believer that if you lose, don't lose the lesson, and in my own circumstance, I "won" in my own way.
Connecting to social media was a real treat. On Facebook, I went from "zero" to over a hundred friends in less than two weeks. I was amazed at how many people that I was actually connected to and how much love and support that was being transmitted to me through cyber-space. Twitter was/is still something else where, if you're not careful, it can become an "itch" that constantly needs scratching. Still, the dialogue to be found by way of an exchange of ideas, the sharing of information and the encouragement provided was there in spades.
My biggest "win" came in the form of the people that I met. I was amazed at how many perfect strangers quickly embraced what I was trying to do and what warm support I received door-to-door - a testament to the good people who call New Westminster home.
I also "won" my spare time back - a real rarity for someone as driven as myself to involve myself in one thing or another, and as Martha Stewart would say "that's a good thing."
So to my fellow candidates who were not elected: cherish the experience of having had the support of your loved ones, the admiration of your friends and the respect of those who know just how difficult it is to "put yourself out there" for a cause that you believe in!
Respectfully yours,
Glen Richmond, New Westminster
