The Little Things

There are so many causes to care about and no activism is worthwhile unless it is intersectional. We must care for our planet. 🌍 🌎 🌏 Not only is Earth our home but environmental issues such as climate change disproportionately affect affect already disadvantaged groups. We cannot care for the disadvantaged without caring for the Earth and vice versa - they are inherently intertwined issues. If you dig deep enough, you will find most worthwhile causes are intertwined: LGBTQ+ rights, women's rights, the fight for racial equality, immigrant rights, environmental activism, the fight against diseases and poverty...

How do we take on these issues without reaching burnout? How do we take on these issues when our own survival relies on maintaining a delicate lifestyle balance in a world driven by money? Capitalism does not allow much room for caring. When you work nonstop to make ends meet, where do you find time to be an activist; how do you have time to make your home and lifestyle kind to the Earth?

The key, I find, is taking it one step at a time; one small step at a time.

We must be kind to ourselves when we fail to live up to the expectations that we set upon our own shoulders. I went through a period where I was the "perfect crunchy mom" and then I had to go back to work. I realized that all the things I did for myself, my child, and the Earth were things that I was privileged to be able to do.

Stay at home and cloth diaper and breastfeed? Drive wherever, whenever to participate in protests and marches? Have time to run a blog where I can post my views? Hell, have time to keep up with current events while raising a child? That took support that not all parents have. That required time and monetary commitments that not all families can afford. My partner at the time was active duty military and his job ensured a roof over our heads, medical insurance, and a support system like no other.

In a couple years when my wife and I begin trying for baby number two, those privileges are unlikely to exist. We plan to squeeze a baby 👶 in between me finishing my 2 year RN and starting my BSN (as the carrying mom, I want to have the baby before I hit 35 and time is ticking) and our life is unlikely to be less chaotic at that point than it is now, prior to me starting school. Between my chaos (serving in the National Guard, working as an EMT, going back to school), her chaos (a pro-wrestler who works full time and is looking at pursuing her Master's Degree) and our chaos (parenting a young child, trying to stay fit, training BJJ as a family - although that is currently on hold due to COVID-19), I know that our future child will not have the same start of life experience as my first.

Sometimes, we are privileged to be able to do everything possible to reduce our footprint and lend our voices to those who need heard and sometimes, the rush of trying to survive in a fast paced world leaves us relegating our activism to occasional posts on social media.

Wherever you are on the spectrum, from supportive comments on a BLM post to full fledged activist, you are valid. Every voice counts. Every single small act counts.

You do not have to constantly and perfectly contribute to every cause you believe in in order for your impact to matter.

Do the little things. They add up.