Bringing Life Back to Politics
By Kana Rasmussen
At Christmas dinner, sitting with my family, my brother’s girlfriend asked us if we had any New Year’s Resolutions. Huh. At sixteen, I honestly did not have any. (Although I’m sure my parents would be happy to suggest a few if I asked.) I didn’t particularly feel like I needed any, either. But as everyone else talked about getting back into old hobbies and cleaning out their closets, I really started to consider what a good new year’s resolution for me would be.
I finally settled on one. I want to do more things purposefully.
Let me explain.
I think we get caught up in doing things because we have to. We volunteer somewhere because we do it for a club or an organization. We read a book because we need to for a school project. We get coffee on the way to work to help us wake up in the morning, open our eyes a little more.
But think about the value something like that really has. What if you volunteered by yourself? Just on a free afternoon, just because you care about what you’re doing? What if you picked a book off the shelf to read because you heard that it has an interesting perspective or a unique writing style? Just for the experience of reading it? And what if you went to a different coffee shop, maybe somewhere local?
What if we were to be more purposeful about the things we do? To see the impact of the things we do. Feel the difference in our routines.
You might ask: how is this political?
It’s not, exactly. But at the same time, I really feel like it is.
The way we participate in politics often reflects what I just talked about. After work or school spending a few minutes reading the news, maybe attending a meeting or fundraiser. Door-knocking or phone banking for a candidate. It can all turn into a huge slosh of tabling and quick conversations, shaking hands and handing out bottled water or buttons. It can feel like work, because a lot of it is hard work sometimes.
I believe that politics can be really meaningful, especially if the values you advocate for in your party matter deeply to you, if they truly resonate in your everyday life. But even when you care wholly about something, it’s easy for it to turn into another task, another time and energy sucker. Sometimes you just need to be re-inspired, to see the shine that made you want to commit so much time to something you care about.
In 2026, I think that for anyone who cares about politics, the greatest and most important thing they can do is to do just that–Bring life back into all those tasks that you do. Find something that re-ignites your passion in politics and civics. The work you do will feel a hundred times more rewarding and energizing if you’re excited about it, if you’re invested in it.
Through running the Memorial High School Dems club, I’ve found, overwhelmingly, that our most popular events, the ones that everyone loves, are just that. Interesting and fun. Full of life. Painting protest signs in an art room, playing music in the background, people talking to each other, listening to so many conversations about things that mattered to them, things that were inadvertently political. Just casual, just fun. And for all of the people in the democratic party who say that we’re losing the youth, the younger generations, I’m not sure I can believe that. Not when I see how many people we can get to turn up on a Friday night to make blankets for homeless people or make banners. Perhaps they’ve been trying the wrong things. Perhaps, we’ve been boring them. Perhaps they’ve been in search of more meaningful work.
And you might say, politics is meaningful work. You don’t have to convince me. I’m incredibly passionate about it. I love politics, I love civics. It means so much to me. I would consider it one of the most important aspects of my life. But to the people who see politics from the sleet of news and debates, messy elections and Thanksgiving-dinner disagreements, how can you blame them for being drawn away? It looks so lifeless, so gray.
So to bring back the color to politics; how can we go about doing that? Well, there is color in politics, there is life. It lies in everyone who takes part in it, the organizing, the protesting, the advocating. It’s getting people to see the color that’s the hard part. We, as people who are active in politics, community politics especially, it’s so absolutely our job to make an effort to steer clear of the gray. People love people who are wildly passionate and energetic. Maybe it’s as simple as this–rather than handing someone a flyer for an event,
“This is going to be amazing. It’s going to be really great; we would love for you to come. We really would.”
And make sure it is going to be amazing! Is it something worth people’s time? Is it going to be meaningful? Just personal connection, a warm smile, and excitement for something you care about. That might just be the color that’s missing from politics right now. That might be what’s missing from the world right now.
What do you love about politics? What keeps you volunteering? Going to meetings? Why are you reading this right now?
Channel that into the work you do this year. It will make your work significantly more meaningful, for you, and for the rest of the people impacted by it. It’s easy to get lost in the gray, but, as they say, nothing easy is worth having, right?
About the Writer:
Hi! I’m Kana Rasmussen. I’m a sophomore at Memorial High School and I would consider myself to be pretty politically active and progressive. I’m the co-president of the High School Democrats and I love running, writing, and playing a variety of instruments. I’m really excited to be running the club and writing for the Dems this year. We’re always welcoming new members and would LOVE to have you and your friends. Even if you’re not sure all of your values align, that’s completely okay: stop by and join us!