Wednesday, January 22, 2025

"Do something every day. That can be something small"

This reminder from Gabriel Valdez was immensely helpful to me today. I wish it were published somewhere, but it isn't, so I'm saving it here.

"Part of the feeling of helplessness right now is this idea that you don't know some big thing you can do. But why would you expect that from yourself? Do something every day. That can be something small - a call to an elected official, getting a friend to call an elected official for the first time. It can be getting in touch with a local charity or volunteer organization. It can be reaching out to someone you know is already doing work and seeing what they might need, in that work or as an ear to listen so that they can go back to that work refreshed.
I want to stress this: These are all things you know how to do. These are all easy things. Remarkably easy things. Do one every day.
Your job right now is not to do the big shit that changes things. A stone is not a mountain on its own. Your job is to do something small but measurable every day that ensures you are not the one being moved off your norms, that ensures you are connecting to community around you.
And yes kindness and yes hope, but god damn it, you don't wait for those things, you make them. A job to be done still needs to be done, regardless of the measurement of your hope. You feel hopeful. Make a call. Reach out. You don't feel hopeful. Make a call. Reach out.
Hope is not produced in a fugue state. Hope is not produced by thinking about producing hope. Hope is the result of action, small, large, doesn't matter. Just matters that you do it.
Kindness is not the result of feeling kind, it is the result of what you do that is kind. Do something kind. Do something hopeful. And then you will be kind and hopeful. That's how it works; it's the only way it works.
You can't identify what needs to be done next if you aren't doing the simple things that can be done now. None of us is in a state to feel we're ready. OK. What's that matter? If you're packing for a trip, you aren't magically ready. You put shit in a suitcase first. If you run a marathon, you aren't magically ready. You train, starting with the small stuff. None of us is ready, but we understand readiness in every other facet of life as the small steps that get us there.
Readiness requires doing the things directly in front of you that get you ready. That's the job of the moment. Do it, or you won't be ready for whatever the hell the job of the next moment is, and that's going to feel a lot shittier than anything we're feeling now.
Things need to be done. Many of them are easy. Do one every day."
__________________________
Pic: This herd of deer was my welcome committee when I got home today. I don't know what was so delicious right there on the driveway, but they didn't want to move. I get no respect. 

14 comments:

Nicole said...

What an uplifting post!

Jenny said...

Amazing message here. I like the analogies to running a marathon or going on a trip- you're not just suddenly ready. It's a bunch of small things that grow as time goes by.
I like your welcome committee!

Lisa's Yarns said...

I love this and probably need to read it every dang day. I have felt a bit hopeless this week if I am being honest. But I was listening to Pantsuit Politics this am and they interview Corey Booker and he reminded us that people like Stephen Miller are intentionally trying to overwhelm and distract us with this ridiculous volume of executive orders. We need to keep calm and focus on being effective in resisting what is happening through small actions on a grand scale.

Nance said...

This arrived in my Inbox today from Marc Elias, Democratic elections attorney and founder of Democracy Docket, and it seems very germane to your post today. It's from his list of 10 Things We Can All Do To Protect Democracy:

9. Prepare for a long fight

In 2017, we hoped that Trumpism was a fluke and would pass. We now know it will not. We are in for a long fight and must build and commit to an opposition movement that will stand the test of time. We will have victories and setbacks, good days and bad. We must understand that this will not be over in one election or with the defeat of any one candidate. This is the fight of our generation, and it will take time.

10. Don’t give up hope

Our best political movements were hopeful. John Kennedy insisted that “we should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes.” Bill Clinton was the man from Hope. Barack Obama ran a campaign based on hope and change. Donald Trump and the Republicans want you to give up hope. Despair and cynicism fuel their movement. We must always, in the words of Jesse Jackson, “keep hope alive.”

J said...

This is very helpful, and just what I needed. Thank you Maya.

Rebecca Kuder said...

Thank you. This is so right on.

maya said...

XOXO

maya said...

I thought of you when the running metaphor popped up, Jenny!

maya said...

Yes, I too have heard they're trying to "shock and awe" people into submission. It's very wearying for sure...

maya said...

Thanks for this, Nance! I will find and subscribe to Marc Elias's newsletter.

I believe in hope strongly as a way forward (rather than as a woo-woo measure), and your words provided the inspiration for tonight's work.

maya said...

I derive so much solace from your writing, Jules--glad to be able to offer you something small here!

maya said...

What a delight AND HONOR to see you here, Love!

Gillian said...

Take Care

maya said...

Thanks!

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