August 20, 2001
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A couple of lesson reminders in my email today. (Sunday)
On one list, discussion New Social Movements, a member mused, "Maybe we put too much emphasis on accomplishing big things, big changes. Maybe we could get more people involved if we emphasized the importance of small actions."
Many aspects to that. As I mused in my recent poem, "Thoughts on My Mortality," we're remembered more fondly for little human things than for big earth-shaking ones. Plus, a small deed done outshines a great deed undone. And, never pass up a chance to do something just because you can't do it perfectly.
The point the email poster was focusing on was, few of us jumped from couch-potato to full-time social activist in one swell foop. My own journey was in real tiny steps. It began when I was deep in depression, staying in a homeless shelter. The third night I stayed there I began showing the first-timers where the blankets and mats were and how things worked. A week later I had come out of depression far enough that I couldn't stand being in a staffed shelter any more. Here in Seattle we have a network of self-managed shelters organized by a group of homeless and formerly homeless people helping each other, and I moved to one of those. I took on volunteer chores, and after a few weeks helped as Coordinator of the shelter. Then I began going to the all-shelter meetings, and doing volunteer efforts on a wider scope including going to speak at City Council meetings, or at neighborhood hearings on opening new shelters. Now I teach classes and manage websites and go to conferences and all sorts of stuff. (Oh, and I have housing and an income and all that self-care stuff too.) It just grew on me. The main effort was in not panicking when something new came up.
Another email had a different slant on "Greater love hath no man but that he lay down his life for another." The poster said that he didn't consider it all that big a deal to die for someone else; but to be willing to put aside what you are doing and give your attention fully to another, that is both difficult, and valuable.
And so now I say good night, to cuddle with my Sweetie and help him come up with an idea for his next column.
Comments (2)
The problems are so big, and the big-time doers get such out-of-proportion adulation that we overlook one important fact--nothing big ever got done without all the little things being done first. The little things are the bricks that make up the structure.
How right you are. It is the little things that matter. You might not get famous from them, but in the end you have a sense of satisfaction that you did make a difference.
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