There is a lot of turmoil in the world, and social media has enhanced many peoples awareness of that turmoil. Where once upon a time if you didn't watch or listen to the news or read the papers, you didn't know, checking in to Facebook or Twitter or Instagram forces you to know.
Knowing that bad things are happening to people all over the world is sobering and saddening. For the compassionate, a feeling of helplessness can occur, as we see all this pain that we can do nothing about.
And that got me to thinking about the people who make great change. People like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X and John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy and Gloria Steinham and Susan B. Anthony.
Those people made incredible sacrifices to be the agents of great change. Being the agent of great change has cost many people their lives. There is an important thing to remember about the people who attempt to make great change. One of the sacrifices they make is often the ability to make small change.
They simply can't foster an animal waiting for adoption, or make room for one more kitten or puppy in a multi-animal household. They rarely get to be classroom helpers (we called them class Mom's in my day), or chaperone field trips or coach children's sport teams. They often have a distance from their immediate families that is inevitable because of the time devoted to their cause. Their significant others have to pick up the slack, and often the change makers entirely sacrifice having children of their own.
The small change makers are what make it possible for the large change makers to do their work. Every homeless animal you foster or adopt, every child you nurture, every go fund me page you donate to, every artist you sponsor by buying their art, every kind word, every grocery order you cover when someone's card is declined, all these make a world worth fighting for.
Whenever you get discouraged that you are not doing enough, focus on what you are doing. Please never discount the value of a hug, or a smile, or a donation, however small.
A dear friend shared this quote on Facebook this week:
"It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, they send forth a tiny ripple of hope."
~ Robert F. Kennedy
The tiny ripples of hope that you are sending out are important. They are part of the fabric of the cosmos, weaving good into the bad, neutralizing anger with compassion, balancing hate with love.
We are all an important part of the tapestry of life. Your goodness, your kindness, your compassion are as important as the acts of the leaders of great change.
Never forget that without you, and your many acts of kindness, love and compassion, there wouldn't be a world worth saving.
So please. I know you get discouraged by all the negative things you see and hear. I know you feel like you need to do more to create a better world. I know that you are frustrated that you can't see the impact of the good that you do.
Believe me, the impact is there. You may never see it large, but as much as you can, work on seeing it small. See the animal safe, fed and content in your home. See the heart on a Facebook post that warmed another's soul. See the art on your wall or on your body that represents your support of an artist. Listen to the music that you purchased to support an artist. Read a book that you purchased to support an author. See the love on the faces of your family and nurture that love with your time and energy.
The universe is large, and not all of us are meant to leave a blazing trail for many to know and remember. That doesn't mean your trail is unimportant. The hardest thing to do is to keep on keeping on when the results are hard to see. That is life for most of us.
I want all reading this to know that everything you do that is good is necessary. You are helping balance the hurt and harm in the universe. And that is the most important work of all.
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