Voting in D.C. is more than just a civic duty. For many, their employment is directly connected to voting results. The way our streets are designed, the wages some workers earn, and the ways we move around on public transit can all be linked back to the ballot box. It is both preoccupation and occupation.

So I encourage you not to think of this Best of D.C. ballot as something you’re voting on. Instead, think of it as a way of giving thanks at a time when we could all be kinder to ourselves and each other.

If you’re grateful for the restaurant serving a miraculous bowl of soup that fed a cold, write its name down. If a staff member at a local store directed you toward a great book or a gift for a loved one, this is the place to leave flowers for them and their places of business. And if a handy person came through to fix something essential, please praise them here.

Some might only see D.C. as a company town packed with government buildings and stubborn elected officials. Real ones know it’s the people outside of politics—the butchers, the bakers, the candle sellers and makers—who really keep this town humming throughout the year. Voting runs through July 10, so you’ll have the chance to edit or add to your ballot if you come across something else worthy of a little love between now and then. 

Click here to get started. Happy voting!