I want to help Barack Obama win the general election. There's only one problem - I am introverted and shy (and no, they're not actually the same thing although people often feel that they are.)
I've always been this way and, as a writer, it hasn't affected my ability to build a successful life.
I like people. I have good friends and close relationships and with these people, I won't shut up. But I can no more call a total stranger to talk about Barack Obama than I can up and fly away. So I've avoided volunteering for the campaign to date because I can't imagine calling strangers or knocking on doors. I would hate it (and I would also be bad at it so ... not helpful!)
I guess this diary is in part a question and in part a suggestion.
The question is: how can someone like me help? I have never volunteered for any campaign before, so I just don't know what's possible. I'd be happy to answer phones (it's not scary when they called me!) or enter data or I don't know ... clean freaking toilets if it would help. I just don't know if there's anything I could really contribute.
The suggestion is that the campaign somehow makes it more comfortable for people like me to volunteer. I'm not sure how ...maybe by asking on the web sign-up forms whether you want to make phone calls, or do something on the back-end. So that you don't feel you have to explain to a busy and exasperated stranger why you can't pick up the phone and start calling people.
I don't know .. this must sound very silly to gregarious Kossacks who love meeting new folks, but for me it's a real stumbling block to helping. And yet I (and many others like me) have a lot to offer too. And more than anything in the world, I want to see Barack Obama elected President.