The "Do Too Much" Leaders

For the 12th Annual ArtSpeaks event this past Sunday,

I was invited to write a poem about our Pamela 4

Sheriff campaign. I could hear the naysayers in my

head, whispering, "You write poems, too? Girl, you do

too much." It made me reflect on how often we limit

ourselves, holding back from helping our community

because we let the noise of doubt get in the way. But

that very noise became the spark for my poem,

inviting you to join me in doing too much—for the

betterment of Alachua County.

The "Do Too Much" Leaders

by Pamela D. Marshall-Koons

People say I’m doing too much—

A poet, a writer, an actress, an activist,

A yoga teacher, mindful and present,

A public policy strategist, wife, mother, grandma,

A Peace Ambassador,

A candidate for Alachua County Sheriff.

And a child of the Creator of ALL that is good.

So how could I ever do too much?

When my Creator painted galaxies across the skies,

Breathed life into the oceans deep,

Crafted every star, every bird in the air,

Every cell that hums within our bodies—

If the naysayers had been in the Creator’s workshop,

They’d have said, “Stop, you’re doing too much.”

But we live... We live in a world where too much isn’t

enough—

Last night 1-hundred Americans died from gunfire, most of

them by their own hand, lost to suicide.

Because of domestic violence, another mother is

homeless, her children left without shelter, hungry,

searching for safety.

Another family’s heart shattered by a judge’s gavel,

15 years passed down because... we didn’t do enough.

Can we afford not To Do Too Much?

When lives are shattered and homes left broken,

When children cry out in hunger and fear,

When violence claims the night and hope fades at dawn—

Can we truly do too much to heal what’s torn?

So NO!....I won’t stop, I won’t slow down, I won’t back

down.

The Creator in me calls forth the urge...To do more, to

fight harder, to push for change.

To bring Peace where there’s chaos...Justice where

there’s pain,

Safety...where there’s fear.

Let them,...they,... Let people... say I do too much—

Now...I invite you to join me in this work,

You be guilty, too, of loving too hard,

Of standing too strong,

Of leading in a way that demands more...than what the

world thinks it can give.

Let’s do too much, for those who need it most.

Vote for Pamela, and together,

We’ll be the leaders who Do Too Much.

And when they speak of us, let them say,

They did too much—for Justice,

They did too much for — Peace

They did too much for — Freedom

They did too much 4 ALL.