You do not have to save the world and you should not try: some thoughts on activism and community

A thread I hear a lot following lefty and community activist type folks is that of pressure. Pressure to change things, to fix them.

This impulse to change things and improve your community is a powerful one and I am lucky to know a lot of people who feel it strongly and act on it.

But the burnout and disappointment is real. You can never do enough and if you try it can eat you. You don’t have to save everyone or everything or show up at every meeting.

First and foremost you have to be okay and take care of yourself. It has to be sustainable. 

Instead of pressure how about we just do what we can. However much that is and whatever form it takes.

Change happens bit by bit, person by person. Whatever you have to offer offer it. Whether that’s doorknocking multiple times a week or once a month for a candidate you like or donating because you work a lot. Or reading books and talking to people. Attending events. Adopting a traffic circle. Writing to council to support something. Talking to a neighbour. Smiling at a homeless person (acknowdging then instead of acting like they don’t exist goes a long way). Emailing your local mosque to say you are product to have them in your community and that you’re sorry so many people are bigoted assholes. Write blog posts if you write. Design something. Whatever you do use that. It’s what you have to offer.

All these little actions build a better society and community. It takes a lot of us doing a little.

So don’t try and be perfect. You’re not and you never will be. Just do your thing, even if it’s small.