when I was a child, I thought smart people were in charge. when I got older, I realized you didn't have to be smart to be in charge. but the piece that was hardest to learn is that no one is really in charge at all. no one's going to fix it beyond us.
Anyway, in my personal experience, one of the most important roles to bring change is that of an organizer. Organizers look at existing power structures and systems and set specific, attainable goals and work with others to achieve those goals and -- any of us can do it. We have to do it.
You can look at a burnt down house and say it's pointless and everything is terrible and give up. Or you start gathering stones and bricks and tools.
And yeah, sometimes you can do both.
I will always turn to the Arthur Ashe quote for help: Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.
I share that quote a lot because it helps me. Things seem overwhelming, I feel like there's nothing I can do, the problem's too big. That leads to despair and paralysis. But I know paralysis REALLY does nothing, which spirals me more. That quote reminds me how anything ever happens. It helps me move
